op  THE 


Theological  Seminary, 

PRINCETON,   N.  J; 

/ 

BX  5UJ/    .C;4  Kl    18Z5   v. 2 
Cecil,   Richard,  1748-1810. 
The  works  of  the  Rev. 
Richard  Cecil 


A  DONATION 


Beceiued 


THE 


REV.  RICHARD  CECILf  M.  A 

r.ATE  RECTOR  OP  BISLEY,  AND  VICAR  OF  CHOBHAM, 
SURREY  ;  AND 
MINISTER  OF  ST.  JOHn's  CHAPEIi,  BEDFORD-ROW  . 
LONDON : 

WITH 

A  MISMOIR  OF  HIS  UFE. 


ARRANGED  AND  REVISED, 
WITH  A 

VIEW  or  THE  AUTHOR'S  CHARACTER. 

BY 

.JDSIAII  PRATT,  B.D.  F.A.S. 


FIRST  AMERICAN  EDITION. 


IS  THREE  VOLUMES— VOL.  II 


BOSTON : 

CROCKER  AND  BREWSTER  ; 
NF.W-YORK:  JOHN  P.  HAVEN,  BROADWAY 

1825. 


"""H.  C.  Sleight,  Printci-,  Jamaica,  L- 1.. 


CONTENTS  OF  VOL.  11. 

SERMOXS  TAKEN  IN  SHORT  HAND  KUOM  MR.  CECIl's 
PREACHING. 

Semon  Page 

I.  Jacob  putting  away  sti'ange  Gods — onGen.  xxxv,  1 — 5  -  7 
%  The  Dying  Saint's  Consolation — on  2  Sam.  xxiii,  5  -  IC 
3.  The  Child  of  Providence— on  1  Kings,  xvii,  15,  16  -  28 
1.  The  Penitence  of  King  Josiah — on  2  Kings,  xxii,  19  -  37 
.).  Ezra  an  Example  in  Business — on  Ezra,  viii,  21,  22,23  -  47 
•5.  The  End  of  the  Upright  Man  :  a  Funeral  Sermon  for 

the  Rev.  Nath.  Gilbert — on  Ps.  xxxvii,  37       -       •  oii 
7.  Hope  :  a  Support  in  Trouble — On  Ps.  xliii,  5        -       -  66 
o.  Thanksgiving  on  the  Victory  of  Trafalgar — on  Psalm 

cxviii,  27      -       --       --       --       -  7C 

9.  The  Benefit  of  Affliction— on  Ps.  cxix,  71  -  -  -  87 
to.  To  Children  and  Parents — on  Prov.  iv,  1  -  -  -  9C 
U.  Advantages  of  the  House  of  Mourning — on  Eccl.  vii,  2  lOf. 

12.  The  Vanity  of  Human  Imaginations — on  Jer.  xxiii,  28,  29  117 

13.  The  Fiery  Furnace — on  Dan.  iii,  24,25      .       .       ~  128 

II.  Signs  of  True  Wisdom — on  Matt,  ii,  1,  2  -       -  137 

15.  Signs  of  the  Times — on  Matt,  xvi,  1,2,  3,  -       -  145 

16.  Duty  of  Watchfulness— on  Mark,  xiii,  35,  36,  37        -  154 

17.  The  Angels'  Song— on  Luke,  ii,  13,  14      -       -       -  164 

18.  Living  Water — onJohn,  iv,  10  .  .  .  .  173 
10.  The  Nobleman  of  Capernaum — onJohn,  iv,  46 — 50    -  185 

20.  The  Power  of  Faith— on  John,  xi,  39,  40  -       -  193 

21.  Felix  trembling — on  Acts,  xxiv,  24,  25  -  -  -  20;! 
32.  The  Fashion  of  the  World— on  1  Cor.  vii,  31  -  -  211 
'23.  Christian  Consolations  abounding  in  Suffering — on  2 

Cor.  i,  5  -     22 1 


4  CONTEM'S. 

Sermon  Pig'. 

24.  Godly  and  Worldly  Sorrow — on  2  Cor.  vii,  10  -       -  230 

25.  The  Sealing  of  the  Spirit— on  Eph.  i,  13,  14      -       -  23P 

26.  On  Chastisement— on  Heb.  xii,  5,6-       -       -       -  247 

27.  Remembrance  of  Christian  Ministers — on  Heb.  xiii,  7,  8  256 
.-28.  On  Temptation — on  James,  i,  12  -  -  -  -  264 
29.  Patience  the  Cliild  of  Faith,  and  Parent  of  Success — 

on  James,  v,  7,  8   277 

.JO.  A  Transient  World,  and  Abiding  Christian — on  John, 

ii,  17  287 

31.  Loss  of  First  Love — on  Rev.  ii,  4     -       -       -       -  296 

32.  Special  Support  in  Suffering — on  Rev.  i,  17       -       -  307 

33.  The  Christian  Conflict,  Conquest,  and  Crown — on 

Rev.  iii,21        -       -       -       -       -       -       -  3ir. 


MISCELLANIES. 

A  Friendly  Visit  to  the  House  of  Mourning  -  -  -  33 1 
Friendly  Advice  from  a  Minister  to  the  Servants  of  his 

Parish  -  36fl 


SERMONS, 

TAKEN  IN 

SHORT  HAXTD, 

FROM 

VIR   CECIL  S  PREACHING 


2 


Digitized  by  tine  Internet  Arclnive 
in  2014 


Inttps://arcliive.org/details/worksofrevricliar02ceci_0 


SERMONS. 


SERMON  I. 

JACOB  PUTTING  AWAY  STRANGE  GOD^. 

Genesis,  xxxv,  1 — 5. 

And  God  said  unto  Jacob,  arise  :  go  up  to  Bethel,  and  d-well  there 
and  make  there  an  Altar  unto  God,  that  appeared  unto  thee  when 
thou  fleddest  from  the  face  of  Esau  thy  brother.  Then  Jacob 
said  unto  his  household,  and  to  all  that  were  with  him,  put  away 
the  strange  Gods  that  are  among  you,  and  be  clean,  and  change 
your  garments,  and  let  us  arise  and  go  up  to  Bethel ;  and  I  will 
make  there  an  Altar  unto  God,  who  answered  me  in  the  day  of 
my  distress,  and  was  with  me  in  the  way  which  I  went.  And 
they  gave  unto  Jacob  all  the  strange  Gods  which  were  in  their 
hand,  and  all  their  ear-rings  which  were  in  their  ears,  and  Jacob 
hid  them  under  the  Oak  which  was  by  Shechem.  And  they 
journeyed  :  and  tlie  terror  of  God  was  upon  the  cities  that  were 
round  about  them,  and  they  did  not  pursue  after  the  sons  of  Jacob. 

We  behold  here  a  very  natural  picture  of  a  family 
in  the  midst  of  care  and  trouble ;  and  a  pious  man  at 
the  head  of  it,  whose  cares  made  him  forget  his  sacred 
obligations.  But  tht  Lord  is  he  that  restoreth  the 
soul ! 

Jacob  had  endured  many  distresses.  One,  in  par- 
ticular, lately  befel  his  family,  in  which  his  sons  had 
rashly  put  a  city  to  the  sword.  We  find  him  saying 
to  his  sons,  Ye  have  troubled  me,  to  make  me  to  stink 
among  the  inhabitants  of  the  land  ;  and,  /  being  few  in 
number,  they  shall  gather  themselves  against  me  and 
slay  me,  and  I  shall  be  destroyed,  I  and  my  house.  In 
the  midst  of  these  cares  and  troubles  God  admonishes 
Jacob.    As  if  he  had  said,  "  Leave  this  matter  to  me. 


8 


OER.MON  I. 


Cast  thy  burden  upon  the  Lord :  he  shall  sustain  thee, 
and  thy  family  too  :  but  arise  thou,  and  go  to  Bethel, 
and  dzvell  there,  and  make  there  an  altar  unto  God 
that  appeared  unto  thee,  when  thou  fleddesl  from  tht 
face  of  Esau  thy  brother.    Remember  thy  vow !" 

You  have  an  account  of  this  vow  in  the  xxviiith 
chapter.  And  Jacob  called  the  name  of  that  place 
Bethel.  And  he  vowed  a  vow,  saying.  If  God  will  bt 
zvith  me,  and  keep  me  in  this  way  that  I  go,  and  will 
give  me  bread  to  eat  and  raiment  to  put  on,  so  that  I 
come  again  to  my  father's  house  in  peace,  then  shall  the 
Lord  be  my  God:  and  this  stone,  -which  I  have  set  for 
a  pillar,  shall  be  God's  house;  and.  of  all  that  thou 
shall  give  me,  I  will  surely  give  the  tenth  unto  thee. 

He  vowed  a  vow,  and  he  forgot  it.  Occupied  with 
his  distresses,  particularly  the  one  which  lately  befel 
his  family,  and  overwhelmed  with  care,  he  forgets  a 
vow  of  which  God  reminds  him.    The  Lord  said, 

Arise  and  go  up  to  Bethel.'"  Jacob,  obedient  to 
ihe  vision,  commands  his  family  to  put  away  their 
strange  gods,  goes  to  -Bethel,  builds  an  altar,  and 
buries  their  idolatrous  instruments :  and  God  so  pro- 
tects him,  that  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  land,  whom 
he  feared,  and  among  whom  he  felt  he  was  become 
a  nuisance,  not  one  ventured  to  attack  him  :  The  ter- 
ror of  God  was  upon  the  cities  that  zvere  round  about 
them,  ayid  they  did  not  pursue  after  the  sons  of  Jacob. 

This  passage  furnishes : 

Reproof  of  our  forgetfulxess  of  past  mer- 
cies. 

a  lesson"  of  duty  to  our  families, 
coxsolatiox  of  every  pious  max,  who  uxder- 

TAKES   THE    REFORMATIOX    OF    HIS    FAMILY  One  of 

the  most  difficult  of  duties ! 

I.  REPROOF  OF  OUR  FORGETFULNESS 
OF  PAST  MERCIES. 

It  was  seven  or  eight  years  since  Jacob  came  to 
Canaan.     He  had  purchased  ground,  and  built  an 


JACOB  PUTTING  AWAY  STRANGE  GODS.  9 


altar;  as  you  will  see  Chap,  xxxiii,  19,  20.  But  he 
forgot  his  vow  with  respect  to  the  erection  of  a  pillar, 
which  he  had  promised  in  the  day  of  his  distress.  What 
is  this,  but  a  picture  of  human  nature  ?  Let  any  man 
look  back  to  his  past  life,  and  remember  the  day  of  his 
distress — how  he  then  consecrated  himself,  and  resolv- 
ed on  the  reforaiation  of  himself  and  his  family.  Let 
him  recollect  what  prospects,  under  these  softening 
impressions,  he  pictured  out  to  himself,  as  to  his  future 
conduct.  But  that  day  is  gone  !  He  has  mingled  with 
the  people  of  the  world !  Time  has  worn  out  his  re- 
solutions.   It  is  apt  to  efface  such  impressions. 

Jacob  had  endured  a  sore  affliction.  In  the  xxxivth 
chapter  you  will  read  an  account  of  this  trial.  But 
still  it  seems  to  produce  no  remembrance  of  his  vow. 
What  is  to  be  done  ?  He  resloreth  my  soul.  God 
^alls  expressly  to  Jacob — "  Jacob  ! — You  have  forgot 
your  vow!  Arise,  go  to  Bethel!  Remember  what 
you  said  in  the  day — and  what  you  felt  in  the  day, 
when  you  fled  from  Esau !"  My  dear  hearers,  if 
God  loves  us  he  will  remind,  as  well  as  restore  us: 
and,  in  order  to  restore,  he  will  reprove  us :  he  will 
chasten  us,  if  we  are  not  bastards  but  sons.  "  Re- 
member," says  he,  "  when  thou  fleddest  from  the  face 
of  thy  brother  Esau.  You  have  forgotten  it ;  but," 
as  if  he  had  said,  "  1  have  not  forgotten  it !  1  have  not 
forgotten  the  deliverance  which  I  afforded  thee  when 
thou  didst  wrestle  for  the  blessing." 

The  remembrance  of  our  past  troubles,  and  of  the 
impressions  which  they  produced,  should  recall  to  our 
minds  what  we  then  intended  to  do,  and  what  we  have 
forgotten  to  do.  Let  us,  m}  dear  hearers,  turn  over 
the  book  of  our  lives :  we  are  fond  of  reading  many 
books :  but  no  book  will  do  us  so  much  good,  next  to 
the  Bible,  as  reading  the  history  of  the  dispensations 
of  providence  in  our  own  particular  cases.  Thou 
shalt  remember  all  the  way  which  the  Lord  thy  God 
hath  led  thee,  these  forty  years,  in  the  wilderness  ;  to 

vnt,  II,  2 


10 


humble  thee  and  to  prove  thee,  and  to  know  what  was 
in  thy  heart.  Let  us  particularly  dwell  on  the  pages 
of  distress,  and  on  the  special  deliverances  alforded 
us  :  these  are  to  be  gratefully  remembered.  Let  ut 
recollect  the  voice  which  spake  to  us  in  these  things, 
and  what  the  Lord  said  to  Jacob  on  this  occasion : 
Jacob !  you  have  forgotten  your  vow :  but  1  have 
not  forgotten  it :  arise,  and  go  to  Bethel !" 

II.  We  have,  in  these  words.  A  LESSON 
WITH  RESPECT  TO  OUR  DUTY  IN  OUR 
FAMILIES. 

Go  to  Bethel:  but  not  merely  go  to  Bethel,  nor 
merely  build  an  altar  there.  Jacob  knew  that  thit 
would  avail  nothing  with  a  heart-searching  God  :  and 
therefore  he  said  to  his  house,  "  Put  away  the  Strang/ 
Gods  that  are  among  you.  Let  us  arise ;  and,  in  this 
way,  go  to  Bethel."  And  they  gave  to  Jacob  all  the 
strange  gods  that  were  in  their  hand,  and  all  the  ear- 
rings that  were  in  their  ears.  And  Jacob  hid  them  un- 
der the  oakivhich  was  by  Shechem. 

You  see,  Brethren,  that  a  man  with  a  family  is  an 
accountable  man.  God  spake  to  Jacob,  and  Jacob 
spake  to  his  household.  And  it  is  said  of  Abraham, 
Shall  I  hide  from  Abraham  that  thing  zvhich  I  do  ?  see- 
ing that  I  know  Abraham,  that  he  will  command  his 
household  after.  I  know  that  he  will  go  forth,  and 
set  them  an  example  :  that  he  will  be  their  teacher : 
and  teach  them  to  follow  him,  in  their  outward  de- 
meanour at  least,  if  he  cannot  convey  grace  to  enable 
them  to  follow  him  in  the  heart. 

Put  away  the  strange  Gods  that  are  among  you.' 
What  did  strange  Gods  do  in  the  house  of  Jacob? 
An  extraordinary  thing,  that  there  should  be  strange 
Gods  in  the  house  of  a  man  that  taught  his  children 
the  knowledge  of  the  true  God,  and  their  obligations 
to  him!  What!  Idols  in  the  house  of  a  godly  man. 
and  a  sincere  witness  for  God !  a  man  who  had  had 
personal  intercourse  with  God  !    Put  array  the  strange 


JACOB  PUTTING  AWAY  STRANGE  GOD3.  ll 


Gods  that  are  among  yov\  What!  Did  he  know 
that  he  had  idols  in  the  house !  So  it  appears.  And 
what  are  we  to  remark  from  this,  but  that,  in  the  best 
famihes,  as  some  commentator  observes,  there  are 
strange  things,  if  not  strange  Gods  !  Idols  will  enter, 
in  spite  of  Jacob  ;  because  they  are  the  creatures  of 
the  heart,  and  will  dwell  in  the  house  in  spite  of  his 
example  and  prohibition. 

Yet,  if  we  observe  them  in  the  houses  of  others, 
let  us  see  and  mark  them  with  candour,  forbearance, 
and  tenderness ;  for  many  there  are,  who  will  gaze 
on  the  faults  and  idols  which  they  see  in  the  houses  of 
others,  who  seem  quite  blind  to  greater  in  their  own. 
We  cannot  be  too  tender  and  candid  in  the  defects 
which  we  observe  out  of  our  houses :  perhaps  they 
prove  a  bitter  and  severe  cross  to  the  owner  of  that 
house!  He  knows  there  are  such  things,  and  he  is 
labouring  to  prohibit  and  remove  them.  His  case 
calls  not  for  our  censure ;  but  for  our  pity,  our  assist- 
ance, and  our  prayers.  There  may  be  idols  in  a 
house,  and  yet  the  fear  of  the  true  God  in  that 
house ! 

But,  however  candid  we  ought  to  be  in  respect  to 
the  idols  of  others,  let  us  imitate  Jacob,  in  being  de- 
termined reformers  of  our  own  houses.  Put  away 
the  strange  Gods  that  are  among  you.  Yet,  whatever 
we  may  lament  as  to  the  state  of  our  houses,  our 
comfort,  if  we  are  real  servants  of  the  living  God. 
should  be  that  of  David,  when  he  said, Although  my 
house  be  not  so  with  God,  yet  he  hath  made  with  me  an 
everlasting  covenant,  ordered  in  all  things  and  sure ; 
and  this  is  all  my  salvation,  and  all  my  desire.  I 
mourn  to  see  these  idols  in  my  family ;  but,  as  to  my- 
self, I  serve  the  living  God."  This  should  be  our 
comfort,  as  well  as  David's.  But  our  conduct  should 
i)e  that  of  Jacob  :  we  may  lawfully  take  David's  com- 
fort, if  we  adopt  Jacob's  conduct.  Therefore  we 
fmd  Jacob  calling  on  his  family  to  follow  him  with 


12 


SERMON  I. 


cleanness  and  purity ;  telling  them  what  God  had 
done  for  him  in  the  day  of  his  distress :  I  am  his 
witness,  that  he  is  the  God  that  heareth  and  answer- 
eth  prayer."  Let  us  endeavour,  as  family-men,  to 
set  before  our  households  the  reasonableness  of  the 
thing,  as  well  as  the  thing  itself.  He  appeared  to 
me  ;  he  is  my  friend  ;  I  bid  you  put  away  idols  ;  and 
1  bid  you  do  it,  because  they  incense  my  friend." 

If  any  one  should  say  to  me,  What  reference  has 
this  to  us?  What  idols  have  we  in  our  houses?"  1 
ask.  Have  you  nothing  in  your  houses,  that  takes  the 
place  of  God  in  your  heart?  Did  you  never  read  of 
a  covetous  man  being  called  an  idolattr?  What  is  the 
pleasure-taker,  who  will  sacrifice  every  thing  to  folly 
and  appetite  ?  What  is  the  poor  gay  worldling,  who 
will  banish  every  religious  consideration  that  he  may 
follow  his  entertainments  ?  What  is  the  man  who 
makes  a  god  of  the  creature,  and  slights  the  truth  ot 
God  ?  Could  such  an  one  say  to  a  poor  stupid  idola- 
ter, "  1  disclaim  your  conduct  as  abominable,"  when 
his  own  is  far  more  so,  considered  in  reference  to  the 
light  under  which  he  lives  ? 

Family  reformation  is  very  difficult ;  as  ever} 
family-man  feels  :  but  let  us  set  forward  with  the  re- 
solution of  Jacob,  remembering  that  a  sincere  desire 
to  reform  our  houses  is  a  considerable  step  toward 
the  accom})lishment  of  this  reformation,  because  we 
work  with  God  :  God  is  on  our  side.  It  is  never  too 
late  to  attempt  it :  yet  it  can  never  be  attempted  too 
rioon. 

Some  people  suppose  that  they  cannot  succeed 
without  a  special  call.  My  dear  hearers,  much  more 
can  be  done  than  men  generally  suppose,  when  it  is 
sincerely  and  resolutely  attempted.  Utterly  remove 
those  evils,  which  have  a  tendency  to  turn  a  pious 
man's  house  into  a  seat  of  idolatry.  Bad  books  poi- 
son a  house  :  so  do  bad  company,  whose  very  breath 
is  contagious :  your  family  is  injured  by  dangerous 


JACOB  PUTTING  AWAY  STRANGE  GODS.  13 


amusements,  wrong  notions,  customary  sentiments 
that  will  not  endure  the  trial  of  the  Scriptures.  To 
the  law  and  to  the  testimony :  if  they  will  not  bear 
that  light,  it  is  because  they  are  deeds  of  darkness, 
[t  matters  not  what  you  think,  or  what  those  persons 
may  think  on  whose  opinion  you  lean.  What  does 
God  say  ?  The  judge  is  to  try  us :  let  us  hear  his 
opinion,  before  the  trial  comes  on.  "  Put  away  the 
strange  Gods  that  are  among  you,''"'  says  Jacob. 
"  They  will  not  stand.  They  will  eat  out  my  increase. 
I  cannot  build  an  altar  with  simplicity,  while  they 
remain." 

Brethren,  as  you  love  your  children,  and  would 
perform  your  duty  to  your  children  and  servants  and 
dependants,  teach  them  the  principles  and  doctrines 
of  Christ.  Quote  his  own  words  to  confirm  those 
truths :  and  if  they  reject  or  neglect  them,  it  were  bet- 
ter for  them  that  they  had  never  been  born :  more 
tolerable  will  it  be  fur  Sodom  and  Gomorrah  in  the 
day  of  judgment,  than  for  them.  Depend  upon 
God's  blessing  your  endeavours,  in  thus  setting 
up  his  altar;  and,  while  you  feel  the  influence  of 
these  truths  yourselves,  call  upon  them  to  walk  after 
you  in  obeying  them.  "  Let  us  arise,"  says  Jacob  : 
"  let  us  go  together :"  no  man  knows,  even  when  your 
heads  are  laid  in  the  dust,  the  blessing  which  God 
may  give  to  your  endeavours :  and  the  seed  which 
you  have  sown  in  weakness,  perhaps  weeping,  shall 
be  raised  in  power ;  and  the  harvest  be  great  in  the 
day  of  judgment. 

If  you  say,  "  It  is  a  difficult  duty !" — I  would  ask.. 
Do  you  think  it  was  an  easy  one  to  Jacob  ?  Do  you 
think  there  were  no  remonstrances  ? — that  the  idols 
were  parted  with  readily  ? — that  the  ear-rings  were 
buried  under  the  oak  without  regret,  by  the  other 
part  of  the  family?  But  let  us  consider,  whether  we 
had  not  better  suffer  the  present  remonstrances  and 
objections  of  our  families,  than  be  the  means  of  theii' 


&ERMON  I. 


enduring  the  worm  that  never  dies  and  the  fire  that 
never  will  be  quenched:  "  for  whatever,"  says  a  cer- 
tain author,  "  is  added  to  your  life  by  regard  to  your 
own  will  and  way,  must  either  become  food  for  the 
worm  that  never  dies,  or  be  torn  from  you  with  the 
acutest  pain." 

Once  more,  here  is  in  the  passage  before  us, 

III.  CONSOLATION  TO  EVERY  PIOUS 
MAN  WHO  UNDERTAKES  THE  REFORMA- 
TION OF  HIS  FAMILY. 

God  was  with  Jacob,  while  he  walked  in  this  way ; 
and,  whatever  he  had  to  fear  from  man.  the  terror  of 
God  zuas  upon  the  cities  that  were  round  about  them. 
The  path  of  duty  is  the  path  of  safety.  If  God  be 
for  us,  who  can  be  against  us  ?  He.  that  spared  not  his 
Own  Son,  but  freely  gave  him  up  for  us  all,  how  shall 
he  not  also  with  him  freely  give  us  all  things?  God 
pledges  himself,  in  that  act,  that  he  will  withhold  no- 
thing that  is  good.  He  knows  our  wants,  occasions, 
and  necessities :  he  knows  what  we  have  to  meet  with 
in  his  way,  and  for  his  name's  sake.  You  may  depend 
on  being  specially  protected,  while  working  the  work 
of  God.  You  cannot  expect  too  much,  with  respect 
to  his  assistance  and  protection  in  his  way.  Leave 
the  event  to  him  :  that  is  not  your  affair.  But,  if  you 
go  out  of  his  way,  you  take  events  upon  your  own 
shoulders;  you  must  bear  consequences  :  and  who  can 
bear  consequences  ?  Fear  nothing  in  a  right  pursuit : 
in  a  wrong  one,  you  have  every  thing  to  fear. 

There  is  a  fine  example,  in  the  case  of  Moses,  of 
consolation  in  a  difficult  duty.  By  faith  Moses,  when 
he  was  born,  was  hid  three  months  of  his  parents, 
because  they  saw  he  was  a  proper  child :  and  they  were 
not  afraid  of  the  king^s  commandment.  "■  You  shall 
put  the  child  to  death,"  says  the  king.  "  We  see," 
say  the  parents,  "it  is  a  proper  child;  and  we  will  fear 
God,  and  obey  God,  rather  than  man :  therefore  we 
will  hide  the  child.    W e  will  leave  the  case  to  God ; 


JACOB  PUTTING  AWAY  STRANGE  GODS.  15 


he  is  able  to  protect  him,  to  take  up,  and  to  carry  him 
through,  notwithstanding  the  dangerous  circumstances 
in  which  he  is  born."  And  I  would  ask,  What  be- 
came of  that  child  ? — This  was  their  faith  : — By  faith 
Moses,  when  he  was  come  to  years,  refused  to  be  called 
the  son  of  Pharaoh'' s  daughter^  choosing  rather  to 
suffer  affliction  with  the  people  of  God,  than  to  enjoy 
the  pleasures  of  sin  for  a  season :  esteeming  the  re- 
proach of  Christ  greater  riches  than  the  treasures  in 
Egypt,  for  he  had  respect  unto  the  recompense  of  the 
reward. 

Them  that  honour  God,  he  will  honour.  The 
terror  of  God  was  upon  the  inhabitants  of  the  cities 
of  the  plain :  not  a  man  went  out  to  revenge  the 
outrage  of  Jacob's  sons,  though  as  great  a  one  as  ever 
was  committed. 

No  doubt  but  every  man  would  feel  cause  of  terror 
presented  to  his  eye  and  ear,  when  the  sons  of  Belial 
rise  up,  saying.  Our  tongues  are  our  own!  who  shall 
he  lord  over  us?  I  will  overtake :  I  will  destroy:  my 
hand  shall  divide  the  spoil.'  We  are  not  to  wonder, 
if  Israel  cried  out  in  such  a  case  as  this.  The  sight 
of  terror  is  overwhelming.  But  let  us  remember  the 
case  of  Peter :  he  looked  at  the  waves,  and  he  sunk  : 
and  he,  that  looks  only  at  the  waves  and  storms  of  life, 
must  sink ;  for  sense  will  bring  reports  that  will  over- 
whelm us.  Nothing  can  then  support  us  but  seeing 
him  that  is  invisible ;  and  considering  that  creatures 
are  all  in  his  hand,  and  moved  by  him  at  his  pleasure. 

A  secret  terror  was  upon  the  inhabitants  of  these 
cities.  Brethren !  this  is  many  times  the  case,  when 
we  see  nothing  of  it.  The  tongues  of  men  are  re- 
strained, when  we  cannot  account  for  the  restraint. 
Deep  laid  schemes  are  broken  to  pieces,  when  we 
are  surprised  to  hear  that  it  is  so.  Malicious  plans 
prove  abortive,  because  God  is  concerned  in  thwart- 
ing them ;  and  more  concerned  than  we  are.  The 
terror  of  God  was  the  reason  that  none  of  the  inhabi- 


16 


SERMON  I. 


tants  of  these  cities  pursued  after  Jacob :  but  they 
would  not  have  known  it,  if  God  had  not  made  it 
known  to  them.  Men  love  to  know  the  causes  of 
things  :  the  Holy  Spirit  here  tells  us  plainly  what  was, 
in  this  case,  the  cause :  the  terror  of  God  was  upon 
them. 

My  dear  hearers,  this  same  ever-working  God  is 
still  at  the  head  of  all  things.  He  sitteth  King  above 
the  -water-floods,  as  much  in  this  day  as  in  that  day :  and 
he  hath  taught  us  to  put  out  trust  in  him,  while  the 
dreadful  speeches,  and  threats,  and  arts  of  ungodly 
men  are  abroad ;  and  has  promised  us,  that  in  pursuing 
our  way,  he  will  give  us  lessons  of  consolation  in 
difficult  duties ;  and  that,  when  we  have  borne  the 
burden  and  heat  of  the  day,  we  shall  come  to  dwell  in 
Bethel — a  house  not  made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the 
heavens.  "  /  ^o,"  says  our  Lord,  "  to  prepare  a  place 
for  you:  and  if  I  go  and  prepare  a  place  for  you,  I 
7vill  come  again  and  receive  you  to  myself,  that  where 
I  am,  there  ye  may  be  also.  In  my  Father^s  house  art 
many  mansions  :  if  it  were  not  so  I  would  have  told 
you  ;  but,  because  it  is  so,  I  tell  you  of  it."  All 
other  families  will  have  their  failings,  embarrassments, 
and  sorrows — But!  -There  is  a  family,  where  no- 
thing of  the  kind  shall  ever  enter !  There  is  a  house 
that  shall  not  fail !  And  I  hope  there  are  many  hero 
present,  whom  I  shall  accompany  to  that  blessed  state, 
where  all  distress  and  anguish,  sorrow  and  sighing- 
shall  flee  away.  Therefore  I  say,  with  St.  Paul, 
For  this  cause  I  bow  my  knees  to  the  Father  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  of  whom  the  whole  family  in  heaven  and 
earth  is  named,  that  he  would  support  you  in  the  path 
of  duty  which  he  calls  you  to  enter — that  you  may 
take  up  the  cross,  bear  the  burden  and  heat  of  the 
day,  and  remember  that  he  is  faithful  who  hath  pro- 
mised, and  that  he  hath  consolations  for  such  of  you, 
as  well  as  trials  for  you  to  bear.  Let  us  therefore 
do  his  work  for  the  day,  and  in  the  day ;  and  wait  for 


JOSEPH  PUTTING  AWAY  STRANGE  GODS. 


17 


the  evening,  when  he  shall  say,  "  Well  done,  good 
and  faithful  servant .'  thou  hast  iorne  the  burden,  en- 
dured the  cross,  despised  the  shame,  and  proved  thy- 
self a  real  disciple  of  my  crucified  Son :  and  now 
enter  into  my  joy." 

That  we  may  enter  into  that  blessed  state,  and 
all  come  to  the  inlieritance  of  the  saints  in  light,  mav 
God  grant  to  us  of  his  infinite  mercy ! 


VOL.  jr. 


3 


SERMON  II 


THE  DYING  SAINT'S  CONSOLATION- 

2  Samuel,  xxiii,  5. 

Although  mj'  liouse  be  not  so  with  God,  yet  he  hath  made  w  ith  me 
an  everlasting  covenant,  ordered  in  all  things  and  sure  :  for  this  i.^ 
all  my  salvation  and  all  my  desire,  although  he  make  it  not  to 
grow. 

We  are  told,  in  the  context,  that  these  were  the  last 
words  o  f  David  ;  probably  not  the  last  words  which  he 
spake,  but  the  last  remarkable  words.  And  he  said, 
the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  spake  by  me,  and  his  word  was  in 
my  tongue ;  for,  all  Scripture  is  given  by  inspiration  of 
God,  and  holy  men  spake  as  they  were  moved  by  the 
Holy  Ghost.  The  God  of  Israel  said,  the  Rock  of 
Israel  spake  to  me.  He  that  ruleth  over  men  must  be 
just,  ruling  in  the  fear  of  God.  This  was  exemplified 
in  David  himself,  but  it  much  more  immediately  refers 
to  Jesus  Christ,  the  King  of  Kings  and  Lord  of  Lords. 
And  he  shall  be  as  the  light  of  the  morning,  when  the 
sun  riselh  ^  even  a  inorning  without  clouds  :  as  the  ten- 
der grass  springing  out  of  the  earth  by  clear  »hining 
after  rain.  These  words  Avere  put  into  David's  mouth, 
inasmuch  as  it  was  the  character  of  himself.  But, 
while  David  received  the  Spirit,  and  ruled  over  Israel 
in  the  sight  of  God,  according  to  the  gracious  promises 
made  to  him,  yet,  when  he  came  to  consider  how  the 
matter  actually  stood  at  home  ;  Although,''''  said  he, 
'■'my  house  be  not  so,  not  right  rvith  God ;  not  so  as  I 
would  wish  it ;  not  so  as  it  ought  to  be ;  not  so  as  I 
might  expect  it  to  be,  considering  the  instruction  which 
it  has  received :  still  the  promise  holds  good .'    It  is 


THE  DYING  SAINT'S  CONSOLATION.  19 


my  last  record.  I  write  it  under  the  influence  of  the 
Spirit,  and  let  others  read  it  to  the  end  of  time,  that 
whatever  be  the  state  of  my  family,  here  is  my  com- 
fort. He  hath  made  with  me  an  everlasting  covenant^ 
ordered  in  all  things  and  sure  :  that  shall  prosper,  in 
whatever  state  my  family  may  be.  Though  it  does 
not  grow  up  before  my  eyes,  1  will  hold  fast  the  truth : 
I  will  look  to  the  covenant,  and  find  it  to  be  all  the  de- 
sire of  my  heart,  and  all  my  salvation." 

Let  us  first  attend  to  David's  complaint,  My 
house  is  not  so  with  God :  I  see  nothing  growing." 

2d]y,  To  David's  consolation.  "  Though  I  have 
not  my  house  as  I  could  wish,  yet  there  is  a  rest  for 
my  soul :  there  is  consolation  :  there  is  an  everlasting 
covenant.^'' 

After  having  discoursed  on  these  two  points,  I  shall 
fead  you  to  a  few  general  remarks  on  the  subject. 

Here  is  set  before  us.  for  our  instruction, 

I.  The  groanings  of  David's  heart  for  his  family  : 
his  COMPLAINT.  "  My  house,  my  family  is  not  so 
with  God.  Of  what  consequence  is  it  what  it  is,  if  it 
is  not  right  with  God  ?  What  advantage  would  it  be, 
if  every  one  of  my  sons  was  a  king,  and  if  they  were 
far  more  successful  than  I  myself  have  been  ?  It  were 
all  nothing  to  me,  if  they  were  not  so  with  God. 
They  are  not  so  as  I  would  wish  them  to  be  :  they  are 
not  so  as  I  pray  they  may  be  ;  nor  so  as  I  fain  would 
make  them ;  and  I  have  but  Httle  hope  that  they  will 
be  so  when  I  am  gone.  And,  what  is  more  than  all. 
when  I  consider  that  a  man's  state  and  condition  is 
exactly  that  which  it  is  before  God,  what  a  painful 
scene  do  I  see  before  me !"  With  what  mournful 
recollection,  as  well  as  bitter  weeping,  must  he  think 
of  Absalom — a  very  accomplished  young  man,  a 
beautiful  young  man,  who  could  steal  the  hearts  of 
Israel !  What  then  ?  He  was  not  so  with  God. 

Oh,  that  parents  would  think  of  this,  when  they  arc 
setting  their  hearts  on  their  children,  on  their  beauty. 


20 


SERMON  II. 


iheir  accomplishments,  their  prospects  in  the  world  f 
Oh,  that  they  would  stop  themselves  and  ask,  "  But 
what  are  they  before  God  ?  How  do  they  appear  in 
his  eyes  ?"  For,  unless  they  are  built  on  the  Rock  ot 
Ages,  they  will  be  soon  swept  away  as  the  chaff  before 
the  wind :  while,  if  their  spirits  are  quickened  of 
God,  they  shall  stand  and  grow  for  ever.  "  Now," 
says  David,  "it  is  my  complaint,  that  I  see  nothing 
grow.  I  have  prayed  and  waited,  and  I  see  nothing 
springing  up.  They  are  looking  at  the  splendour  of 
my  kingdom  :  they  are  wishing  for  my  place ;  wishing 
to  take  my  crown  and  sceptre  before  my  death ;  en- 
tering into  plots  and  conspiracies  against  my  govern- 
ment:  I  see  nothing  grow."  Growth  depends  on 
grace  :  the  husbandman  may  plough  and  sow  :  it  is  his 
duty  so  to  do :  but,  except  the  Lord  send  his  sun  to 
shine  on  his  labour,  nothing  will  grow.  Has  not  this 
been  the  case  in  the  hearts  of  many  of  your  children  ? 
After  all  that  you  can  say  or  do,  there  is  still  a  draw- 
ing back:  they  are  running  after  every  folly;  stupid 
as  the  deaf  adder,  with  respect  to  the  charming  voice 
of  the  gospel.  Our  children  can  imitate  our  errors 
and  our  sins :  they  can  grow  in  what  is  wrong,  and 
will  ruin  them,  because  corruption,  not  grace,  runs  in 
the  blood.  Yet  we  are  to  hold  on  our  way,  and  to  do 
our  duty  to  the  best  of  our  ability,  that  their  blood 
may  not  be  required  at  our  hands.  In  the  morning, 
we  must  soio  our  seed;  and  in  the  evening  not  with- 
hold our  hand.  We  are  to  look  up  to  God,  who  has 
changed  our  own  hard  hearts ;  and  beg  him  to  turn 
them  from  darkness  to  light,  from  Satan  to  God.  It 
is  our  duty,  while  using  the  means,  to  remember  that 
abounding  mercy  of  God,  which  has  brought  any 
thing  of  a  saving  nature  into  our  own  hearts. 

Do  you  ask  me,  what  is  to  be  our  support,  what  is  to 
bear  you  and  me  up,  as  Fathers,  and  Masters  of  Fami- 
lies ;  to  keep  us  steady — riding  at  anchor — prepared 
to  meet  every  thing  which  may  befall  us  ? — I  answer. 


THE  DYING  SAINT'S  CONSOLATION. 


21 


It  must  be  something  out  of  this  world ;  something 
better  than  this  world  can  supply  :  and  we  will  now 
turn  to  the  consideration  of  it. 

From  David's  complaint,  in  the  words  of  our  text, 
we  turn, 

II.  To  his  CONSOLATION  :  Allhougk  my  house 
he  not  so  loith  God,  yet  he  hath  made  zoith  me  an  ever- 
lasting covenant,  ordered  in  all  things  and  sure,  for 
this  is  all  my  salvation,  and  all  my  desire,  although  he 
make  it  not  to  grow. 

What  is  a  covenant  ?  It  is  a  Disposition  of  things, — 
a  Settlement, — a  Constitution  :  whether  it  come  be- 
tore  us  in  the  form  of  a  testament  or  legacy,  or  in  the 
nature  of  a  bargain  or  agreement.  Whatever  form 
it  assumes,  it  is  a  Disposition,  a  Settlement,  a  Consti- 
tution of  things ;  and  the  Everlasting  Covenant,  here 
spoken  of,  is  of  this  kind.  It  is  a  constitution  under 
which  a  sinner  is  called  to  believe  and  trust  in  Christ ; 
denominated  everlasting,  because  from  everlasting  in 
the  contrivance,  and  to  everlasting  in  the  continuance. 

On  this  covenant  David  could  build  his  hope.  It  is 
called,  in  another  part  of  Scripture,  the  sure  mercies  of 
David.  This  covenant  is  ordered  in  all  things : 
thereon,  therefore,  we  may  rest  safely.  It  is  not  of 
our  making :  God  contrived,  established,  and  ratified 
it,  to  advance  his  own  glory;  to  set  forth  the  honour 
of  his  Son  ;  and  for  the  comfort,  security,  and  holiness 
of  his  people. 

This  covenant  differs  from  that  made  with  Adam, 
which  was  soon  to  pass  away.  In  this  covenant, 
whatever  is  required  is  promised.  Has  God  de- 
clared that  his  people  must  have  a  new  heart  and  a 
right  spirit  ?  he  has  promised  this  new  heart  and  this 
right  spirit, — pardon  of  sin,  strength  for  obedience, 
grace  and  glory.  And  this  covenant  shall  not  fail, 
like  that  of  Adam,  for  a  transgression,  because  it  is 
secured  in  Christ.  It  is  sure : — sure  in  its  proposals  ; 
aure  in  every  step  of  it ;  and  sure  in  the  issue. 

XOL.   11.  3 


22 


SERMON  II. 


"  Now,"  says  David,  "  he  has  made  this  covenant 
with  nne :  he  has  enabled  me  to  rest  on  its  promises 
by  faith :  he  has  taught  me  to  build  on  the  only  foun- 
dation that  he  has  laid  in  Zion.  .ind  this  is  all  m>/ 
salvation:  it  all  depends  on  it:  all  things  are  con- 
tained in  it:  it  is  founded  on  the  best  promises,  ever- 
lasting and  unchangeable,  and  therefore  it  is  all  in  all. 
What  can  I  have  more  ?  What  can  I  wish  more  ' 
What  are  my  chief  desires  ?  Man  is  a  weak  and  igno- 
rant creature  :  I  have  said,  '  Give  me  this,'  and  '  Give 
me  that :'  I  have  gone  to  broken  cisterns,  as  well  as 
other  men  :  I  have  leaned  on  earth,  like  other  men  : 
and  it  has  proved  a  broken  reed,  and  oft  a  spear,  and 
wounded  my  hand, — and  shall  1  still  idolize  it .'  Away 
with  my  fond  and  childish  desires  :  they  are  unworthy 
the  man  who  can  grasp  the  mercies  of  an  everlasting 
covenant ;  and  therefore,  now  that  I  am  come  to  die. 
and  to  speak  my  right  sentiments  in  my  right  mind,  I 
say  that  this  is  not  only  all  my  sahation,  but  all  my 
desire.  If  I  am  told,  therefore,  that  I  must  walk  sor- 
rowfully, in  a  narrow  way.  in  a  puzzling  road ;  that  1 
must  be  accepted  in  a  better  righteousness:  that  1 
must  even  travel  by  myself  in  this  road  to  heaven,  1 
answer,  "  So  be  it :  I  am  satisfied.'  " 

We  have  seen,  then,  that  David,  as  well  as  we,  had 
great  complaints  to  make ;  but  he  espies,  flies  to,  and 
embraces  the  only  sure,  firm,  permanent  dependancc 
and  foundation.  He  hath  made  u-ith  me  an  everlasting 
covenant,  ordered  in  all  things  and  sure. 

HI.  I  will  not  detain  you  longer  on  this  point,  but 
would  rather  come  still  nearer  to  your  bosoms,  in  the 
REMARKS  that  I  would  make  upon  the  passage. 

1.  Whatever  blessings  a  pious  man  receives 

ox  THE  road,  as  he  TRAVELS  THROUGH  THE  WIL- 
DERNESS ;   YET  HE  FINDS  THAT  HE  IS  NOT  AT  HOME. 

Abraham  enjoyed  many  mercies  ;  but  he  was  not 
vet  at  home:  and,  therefore,  he  looked,  not  at  his 
children,  nor  at  his  cattle,  his  lands,  his  goods,  or  his 


23 


three  hundred  servants,  but  to  the  house  eternal  in  the 
heavens.  He  looked  through  temporal  blessings  to 
his  possessions  in  glory ;  as  a  man  looks  across  hi? 
neighbour's  fields  to  his  own  estate. 

Jacob,  when  he  came  to  stand  before  Pharaoh, 
sajs,  "jPezu  and  evil  have  the  days  of  the  years  of  my 
pilgrimage  been:  I  am  only  a  poor  pilgrim  going 
home  :  1  am  not  yet  there !" 

David,  in  the  midst  of  the  splendour  of  his  court, 
tells  you,  "  I  am  not  at  home :  that  is  above :  my 
family  is  distressing  to  me :  sin  has  entered  it,  driven 
out  the  peace  and  comfort  of  it,  and  poisoned  it;  but 
blessed  be  God,  there  is  a  house  above,  there  is  a 
covenant  in  which  1  can  wrap  up  all  my  hopes  and  all 
my  desires." 

My  dear  hearers,  till  you  learn  to  look  beyond 
your  houses  here,  and  build  on  better  comforts  than 
this  world  can  afford,  you  are  under  an  impositon. 
You  are  deceived.  You  are  seeking  the  living  among 
the  (lead.  Instead,  therefore,  of  murmuring,  and  re- 
pining, and  desponding,  because  present  things  arc 
uncomfortable,  rather  thank  God  that  he  will  not 
sutFer  you  to  rest  in  them,  nor  make  a  portion  of 
them  ;  that  there  is  a  voice  in  them,  such  as  Abraham 
heard,  "Begone!  Go  to  an  everlasting  covenant! 
Go  to  unchangeable  promises !  Go  to  that  which  shall 
grow  :  Think  not  to  find  a  home  and  a  rest  here  !" 

I  speak  not  these  things  to  render  you  melancholy 
and  gloomy.  For  while  I  would  prevent  your  build- 
ing on  the  sand,  I  would  warn  you,  that,  though  a 
good  man  feels  he  is  not  at  home,  yet  he  is  still  satis- 
fied with  what  he  finds  on  the  road.  The  Christian  is 
not  a  misanthrope,  who  says  there  is  no  good  in  the 
world,  and  quarrels  with  every  thing  around  him.  A 
Christian,  when  he  finds  he  is  not  at  home,  is  satis- 
fied, on  the  whole,  because  he  finds  many  blessings  by 
the  way ;  and  knows  that  his  Lord  is  bringing  him  by 
a  right  road  through  all  his  troubles,  to  a  city  of  habi- 


24 


fation.  As  the  philosopher  said  when  he  was  ship- 
wrecked, and  the  people  were  busily  employed  in  re- 
moving their  goods  from  the  vessel,  and  one  said  to 
him,  "  What  I  do  you  carry  nothing  away  ?  Do  you 
leave  your  goods  to  destruction  ?"  No,"  said  he  : 
"  I  carry  all  my  goods  with  me so,  whenever  the 
Christian  is  wrecked  in  death,  he  says,  "  I  shall  carry 
all  my  treasure  with  me  :  death  cannot  strip  me  of  my 
treasure  :  for  1  have  left  my  children,  and  houses,  and 
lands  in  this  life,  that  I  may  receive  a  hundred  fold 
more  in  the  world  to  come." 

Are  you  called  to  walk  in  a  dark  path  ?  Think  of 
tViat  bright  morning,  without  a  cloud,  which  is  coming  : 
Do  you  find  changes  within  and  changes  without? 
Think  of  the  everlasting  covenant !  Do  you  feel 
anxiety,  confusion,  and  disappointment  embittering 
your  lot?  Think  of  thdii  covenant  which  is  ordered 
in  all  things  !  Do  you  find  you  can  place  no  depend- 
ance  on  friends  and  promises  ?  Do  your  expectations 
fail  ?  Think  of  the  covenant  which  is  sure !  Can 
you  keep  no  hold  of  anything?  God  never  intended 
you  should:  he  offers  you  everlasting  covenant! 
Of  that  lay  hold !  Let  other  tilings  go.  They  arc 
not  your  portion.  God  intended  to  loosen  your  hold, 
that  you  might  say,  '•  I  will  look  to  that  which  is  all 
my  salvation  from  sin  and  sorrow!  I  will  look  away 
from  that  which  is  precarious  and  uncertain,  to  that 
which  is  unchangeable.  There  is  a  branch  that 
springs  from  Jesse  :  that  shall  be  all  my  salvation  and 
all  mij  desire,  when  I  can  see  nothing  else  grow." 

Brethren !  this  is  the  true  knowledge  of  the  world, 
as  well  as  the  true  knowledge  of  the  Gospel.  Here 
we  see  what  we  must  live  upon,  and  what  we  can  die 
upon.  Let  us  lay  it  down  as  a  maxim,  that  a  Chris- 
tian, at  the  very  worst,  though  a  beggar  in  the  condi- 
tion of  Lazarus  at  the  gate,  covered  with  sores — is 
far  happier  than  the  rich  man,  in  his  best  estate. 

2.  Let  us  learn,  from  David's  language,  that  the 


THE  DYING  SAINT'S  CONSOLATION.  26 


TROUBLES  OF  A  CHRISTIAN'S  HOUSE  ARE  PARTICU- 
LARLY DESIGNED  TO  LEAD  HIM  OUT  FROM  THE 
WORLD,   AND   UPWARD   TOWARD   HIS  HOME. 

He  is  under  special  teaching.  Another  man  is 
satisfied,  and  looks  no  further.  There  cannot  be 
a  sorer  judgment :  Ephraim  has  joined  himself  to 
idols:  let  him  alone.  Let  him  not  find  out  the 
fraud. 

Sometimes,  indeed,  the  servant  of  God  is  gently 
drawn  : — Hearken,  O  daughter,  and  consider,  and  in- 
cline thine  ear  :  forget  also  thine  own  people,  and  thy 
father'' s  house.  So  shall  the  King  greatly  desire  thy 
beauty  ;  for  he  is  thy  Lord  God,  and  worship  thou  him. 
But,  if  he  is  not  disposed  to  leave  his  state  and  condi- 
tion, if  his  heart  still  wishes  to  rest  a  little  longer  and 
a  little  longer.  God  knows  how  to  drive  as  well  as  to 
draw.  A  thorn  is  put  into  his  rest.  Then  he  learns 
to  siiy,  "  Nothing  grows  here:  this  is  no  longer  my 
garden :  here  are  no  peaceful  walks,  no  refreshing 
shades,  no  cheering  fruits :  I  must  go  away :  I  must 
look  higher." 

Was  not  this  the  case  with  Adam  ? — with  Noah  ? 
— with  Abraham? — with  Isaac? — with  Jacob? — 
peculiarly  so  with  Job  ? — most  eminently  so  with 
Aaron  ? — most  deplorably  so  with  Eli  ? — and  now, 
says  David,  "  It  is  my  case  :  1  see  what  God  is  doing 
in  my  house,  to  make  me  look  further;  and  I  do  look 
further:  and  [  look  to  nothing  short  of  the  everlasting 
covenant.'''' 

Brethren  !  jf  things  grew  to  our  minds,  we  should 
have  no  heart  to  leave  them !  Trials  are  the  voice 
which  says,  "Leave  these  things!  Begone?  gel 
away!"  They  speak  to  us:  but  'till  we  are  brought 
to  say,  "  Though  the  fig-tree  doth  not  blossom,  though 
there  is  no  comfort  in  the  creature,  yet  will  I  joy  in 
the  Lord,"  we  hear  in  vain. 

3.  I  shall  make  a  third  remark :  and  that  is,  that 
we  should  hence  learn,  not  only  to  live  wit- 


26  SERMON  11. 


N'ESSES  FOR  GOD,  BUT  TO  DIE  BEARING  OUR  TESTI' 
MONY  TO  THE  REPORT  OF  THE  UNSEARCHABLE 
RICHES  OF  CHRIST,  AND  THE  BENEFIT  AND  BLES- 
SING  OF   HIS   EVERLASTING  COVENANT. 

If  fools  will  come  and  ask  us  what  there  is  in  the 
spirit  of  reliiiion,  we  should  endeavour  to  show,  that, 
if  it  can  do  nothing  else,  it  can  bear  up  a  dying  sin- 
ner; that  he  has  got  hold  of  something  substantial 
and  abiding,  when  every  thing  flies  from  them. 

The  language  of  the  heart  carries  its  own  evidence. 
Even  disappointed  worldly  men  leave  a  strong  testi- 
mony. I  know  not  that  any  thing  ever  more  forcibly 
struck  me  on  this  subject,  than  the  dying  declaration 
of  that  haughty  man,  Cardinal  Wolsey :  "  If  I  had 
served  my  God  with  half  the  zeal  with  which  I  have 
served  my  king,  he  would  not  have  forsaken  me  in  my 
old  age." 

If  then  we  have  tasted  the  good  zvord  of  God, 
and  the  powers  of  the  world  to  come,  and  the  com- 
forts of  the  everlasting  covenant,  let  us  say  with  the 
poet, 

'■  Let  me  thy  power  and  truth  proclaim 
To  the  surviving  age; 
And  leave  a  savour  of  thy  name, 
When  I  shall  quit  the  stage." 

To  every  parent  I  would  say,  you  had  better  leave 
such  a  testimony  as  this,  addressed  to  the  hearts  of 
your  families  on  a  dying  bed,  than  leave  them  thou- 
sands of  gold  and  silver.  Gold  and  silver  may  prove 
but  a  millstone  about  their  necks,  to  sink  them  into 
a  bottomless  pit:  this  shows  them  that  a  Christian  has 
something  to  die  with ;  that  he  has  chosen  a  better 
part.  It  shows  them,  that,  while  he  lives,  he  has 
something  in  his  heart  which  is  all  his  salvation  ;  and 
that,  if  they  will  perish  in  spite  of  all  his  remon- 
strances, yet  he  has  a  hope  full  of  imraortality.  As 
though  David  had  said,  "  Come,  all  ye  that  fear  God. 
and  I  ivill  tell  you  ichat  he  hath  done  for  my  soul,  I 


THE  DYING  SAINT'S  CONSOLATION. 


27 


have  passed  through  fire  and  water.  He  hath  covered 
my  head  in  the  day  of  battle,  and  put  a  new  song  in  my 
month ;  and  though  I  grieve  because  I  have  an  un- 
sodly  house  and  family  around  me,  yet  1  will  leave 
my  testimony  that  I  die  not  without  consolation.  I 
have  something  that  is  all  my  desire.  And  though  I 
see  nothing  grow  below,  I  see  a  garden  growing 
above,  to  which  I  am  going ;  ever  flourishing,  green, 
and  fair ;  where  stands  the  tree  of  life,  whose  leaves 
are  for  the  healing  of  the  nations.''''  God  grant  that 
you  and  I  may  leave  such  a  testimony  behind  us! 


SERMON  III. 


THE  CHILD  OF  PROVIDENCE. 

1  Kings,  xvii,  15,  16. 

And  she  went,  and  did  according  to  the  saying  of  Elijah :  and  she. 
and  he,  and  her  house  did  eat  many  days.  And  the  barrel  of  meal 
wasted  not,  neither  did  the  cruise  of  oil  fail ;  according  to  the  word 
of  the  Lord,  which  he  spake  by  Ehjah. 

Ax  attempt  to  be  independent  of  God  is  one  of  the 
greatest  errors  to  which  man  has  ever  been  exposed. 
It  was  the  first  temptation  addressed  to  him: — Yc 
f^hall  be  as  Gods :  and  therefore  he  ventured  to  break 
the  command  of  God,  and  attempted  to  be  indepen- 
dent of  him.  This  is  the  essence  of  sin — of  our  fall 
from  God. 

This,  however,  was  not  the  temper  of  Elijah. 
Though  he  seems  to  have  been  a  man  of  sanguine 
constitution,  yet  you  find,  from  the  account  given  of 
him,  in  this  chapter,  which  begins  his  history,  that, 
when  he  had.  according  to  the  word  of  the  Lord, 
declared,  .4s  the  Lord  God  of  Israel  liveth,  before 
zchom  I  stand,  there  shall  not  be  dew  nor  rain  these 
years,  but  according  to  my  word,  he  went,  according 
to  the  command,  and  hid  himself  by  the  brook  Che- 
rith.  and  was  fed  by  ravens  morning  and  evening,  and 
drank  of  the  brook ;  and,  without  any  sort  of  com- 
plaint that  he  should  be  fed  in  this  manner,  he  seems 
quite  contented  with  his  accomodations.  And,  when 
the  brook  dried  up,  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  unto 
him,  saying.  Arise,  get  thee  to  Zarephath,  which  be- 
longeth  to  Zidon,  and  dwell  there.  And  he  arose,  and 
went  to  Zarephath,  in  great  simplicity :  as  if  he  had 


THE  CHILD  OF  PROVIDENCE. 


29 


said,  "Let  God  send  me  whither  he  will,  and  main- 
tain me  how  he  pleases." 

A  poor  woman  was  gathering  of  sticks  :  and  Elijah 
'•ailed  to  her,  and  said,  Fetch  me,  I  pray  thee,  a  little 
water  in  a  vessel,  that  I  may  drink.  And  as  she  was 
^oing  to  fetch  it,  he  called  to  her,  and  said.  Bring  me. 
f  pray  thee,  a  morsel  of  bread  in  thy  hand.  And  she 
told  him  her  circumstances,  and  said.  As  the  Lord 
thy  God  liveth,  I  have  not  a  cake,  but  a  handful  of 
meal  in  a  barrel,  and  a  little  oil  in  a  cruise :  and,  be- 
hold, I  am  gathering  two  sticks,  that  I  may  go  in  and 
dress  it  for  me  and  my  son,  that  we  may  eat  it  and  die. 
And  Elijah  said  unto  her.  Fear  not :  go  and  do  as  thou 
hast  said ;  but  make  me  thereof  a  little  cake  first,  and 
bring  it  unto  me,  and  after  make  for  thee  and  for  thy 
xon.  For  thus  saith  the  Lord  God  of  Israel.  The 
barrel  of  meal  shall  not  waste,  neither  shall  the  cruise 
of  oil  fail,  until  the  day  that  the  Lord  sendeth  rain 
upon  the  earth.  Mark  the  power  of  faith,  in  true  obe- 
dience to  God.  She  went,  and  did  according  to  the 
•raying  of  Elijah  :  and  she,  and  he,  and  her  house  did 
eat  many  days.  And  the  barrel  of  meal  wasted  not, 
neither  did  the  cruise  of  oil  fail ;  according  to  the  word, 
of  the  Lord,  which  he  spake  by  Elijah. 

Let  us  first,  contemplate,  in  this  woman,  the 
f  HiLD  OF  PROVIDENCE  :  and,  secondly,  endeavour  to 
derive  from  this  history  instruction  for  ourselves. 

\.  Let  us  contemplate,  in  this  widow  of  Zaraphath. 
ihe  CHILD  OF  PROVIDENCE. 

In  one  sense,  we  are  all  the  Children  of  Provi- 
dence :  the  very  ravens  are  such ;  for  God  feedeth 
them,  and  we  are  sent  to  them  to  learn.  But  some 
are  the  Children  of  Providence,  like  this  woman,  in  a 
special  respect  •,  because  they  eye  Providence  :  they 
trust  it,  and  that  with  confidence :  they  see  that  all 
things  are  in  God's  hand  ;  and  that  not  a  sparrow  falls 
^o  the  ground,  nor  a  hair  from  the  head,  without  his 

VOL.   II.  4 


30 


SERMON  m. 


knowledge ;  since  he  has  numbered  all  these  things, 
and  sustains  them  according  to  his  pleasure. 

The  Children  of  Providence  are  not  only  en- 
lightened, not  only  have  their  ears  opened  to  hear 
what  God  shall  speak,  and  are  satisfied  with  what  he 
speaks,  but  their  hearts  are  enlivened  by  faith,  hope, 
and  love,  by  the  Holy  Spirit's  holy  impression,  and 
sealing  of  the  word  of  God  upon  the  soul.  Had 
Elijah  been  sent  to  a  whole  nation  of  females  in  the 
circumstances  under  which  lie  came  to  this  widow, 
with  what  reception  would  he  have  met? — "What'. 
Take  the  only  handful  of  meal  in  my  barrel !  the  only 
drop  of  oil  in  my  cruise  I  and  give  to  you — a  stranger  1 
If  you  are  a  prophet  of  God.  will  you  take  my  little 
all  away  ?  You  can  work  miracles  for  your  own  re- 
lief." But  she  beheved  that  he  spake  the  word  of 
God,  and  that  God  was  faithful  to  his  word  ;  and  that 
the  barrel  of  meal  should  not  waste,  nor  the  cruise  of 
oil  fail :  she  casts  anchor,  therefore,  on  that  word  :  she 
puts  honour  on  God-s  prophet ;  and  seems  to  say, 
•'  Let  him  command  what  he  will  ;  let  him  but  give 
me  faith."  Brethren!  many  sit.  and  hear  a  preacher 
declare  the  mind  and  will  of  God,  and  then  go  awav 
and  act  as  if  they  had  not  heard  it :  but  do  ye  depart 
and  say,  '''  I  will  trust  the  word  of  the  Lord.  Hr- 
hath  spoken:  that  is  enough.    I  will  trust  him." 

You  may  remark,  too.  in  this  woman,  the  exercise 
of  that  grace  which  God  had  given  to  her.  She  had 
endured,  probably,  much  anxiety,  and  had  encoun- 
tered many  afflictions :  she  had  lost  her  husband,  and 
she  was  now  pinched  by  the  famine.  But  the  laith 
which  she  discovered  seems  even  to  have  exceeded 
that  of  the  widow  who  cast  her  two  mites  into  the 
treasury  :  she  seems  to  have  hoped  against  hope  :  she 
trusted  and  obeyed,  without  any  listening  to  flesh  and 
blood. 

You  see  also,  in  this  Child  of  Providence,  that  she 


THE  CHILD  OF  PROVIDENCE. 


was  kept  steady  :  she  did  not  turn  aside  to  crooked 
paths  for  meal  or  oil.  The  increase  of  this  widow's 
(aith  was  as  great  a  miracle  in  grace,  as  the  increase 
of  her  oil  was  in  nature. 

The  Child  of  Providence,  moreover,  has  com- 
munion with  God,  his  leader,  while  walking  in  this 
path.  Two  men  may  walk  together  through  the 
same  trial,  but  in  a  very  different  manner.  One  may 
quarrel  with  God  every  step  of  his  way :  "  There 
never  was  such  a  case  as  mine — such  losses,  trials, 
hardships!"  The  other  may  be  taught  to  say,  "/(  is 
the  Lord!  let  him  do  what  seemeth  him  good !  my  par- 
ticular path  of  duty  is,  to  glorify  God  in  the  fires!" 

This  widow  appears  also  as  the  Child  of  Provi- 
dence, in  the  strangeness  of  the  relief  which  she  ob- 
tained. We  are  taught  by  her  history,  that  they  who 
look  to  God  shall  see  God.  Brethren!  all  the  children 
of  God  live  too  far  from  God  !  We  limit  his  Provi- 
dence. We  cannot  see  :  therefore  we  say  he  cannot 
see.  You  have  heard,  no  doubt,  the  enthusiastic  and 
fanatical  language  of  some,  who  pretend  to  trust  God 
out  of  the  path  of  duty  ;  and  expect  miracles,  where 
none  need  to  be  wrought,  provided  they  continued  in 
that  path  :  but,  because  some  are  enthusiasts,  shall 
therefore  become  doubting  Sadducees  ?  Shall  we 
talk  of  God  in  his  Providence,  as  though  we  had  no 
relation  to  God  as  a  Father  in  Christ  Jesus.  Shall  we 
forget  his  appeal  to  the  ravens,  the  sparrows,  and  the 
lilies  ?  Shall  we  trifle  with  his  injunction,  that  we 
should  take  no  anxious  thought  for  the  morrow  ? 
While  we  have  before  us  an  extraordinary  method  of 
relief,  yet  I  doubt  not  but  that  many  here  could  join 
me,  and  declare,  if  it  were  proper,  "  In  our  own  par- 
ticular cases,  we  could  mention  extraordinary  in- 
stances of  the  interference  of  the  hand  of  God  in  the 
greatest  difficulties ;  so  that  we  have  reason  to  say. 
'  In  the  mount  of  difficulty  his  hand  shall  be  seen.'  " 

You  may  remark  also,  in  this  history,  that  the  Child 


32 


SERMON  III. 


of  Providence  is  under  a  peculiar  teaching ;  and  that 
it  is  the  common  education  of  the  children  of  God. 
that  where  he  gives  faith  he  tries  it.  You  here  see  a 
woman  brought  into  the  most  dependent  state ;  and, 
ut  the  same  time,  independent  of  all  but  God.  fVt: 
have  toiled  all  night,  says  the  Apostle,  and  have 
caught  nothing.  No  matter! — cast  again! — if  Chrisl 
bid,  you  shall  not  cast  in  vain.  We  have  here  Jive 
barley  loaves  and  tvio  small  Jlshes  ;  but  what  are  they 
among  so  many  ? — Nothing! — Yet  they  are  more  thaa 
sufficient,  if  God  please  to  employ  them  :  they  shalt 
feed  five  thousand,  and  there  shall  be  gathered  up 
twelve  baskets  full  of  the  fragments. 

II.  Having  spoken  of  the  Child  of  Providence  i» 
the  text,  let  us  now  think  of  ourselves ;  and  consider 
what  we  should  LEARN  from  this  history. 

1.  We  are  taught  thereby,  TO  seek  a  saving  ac- 

aUAINTAN'CE   WITH   THE   GOD   OF  ELIJAH. 

Many  persons  talk  of  God  ;  and  say  that  they  trust 
in  God,  and  hang  all  their  hope  upon  hi[n  :  but,  when 
I  have  heard  many  speak  thus,  I  have  marked  that 
they  have  talked  of  trusting  a  God,  whom  they  knew 
not, — a  God  out  of  Christ.  They  consider  not  that 
he'is  only  to  be  found  as  a  friend — helper — preserver 
— and  exceeding  great  reward,  in  the  way  which  he 
has  himself  declared  : — dwelling  in  the  midst  of  the 
bush,  to  teach  us.  that  we  must  find  him  in  Christ,  or 
we  cannot  find  him  ! 

Oh,  that  every  man  before  me  might  learn,  what- 
ever his  plans,  his  projects,  and  his  hopes  may  be. 
that  he  is  wholly  out  of  the  way,  and  folly  and  vanity 
are  written  on  his  schemes,  if  he  does  not  obtain  the 
good  will  of  him  that  dwelt  in  the  bush. 

I  see  here  Parents  who  are  toiling  night  and  day. 
What  are  you  doing  ?  "  I  have  a  large  family  of  chil- 
dren :  and  I  am  endeavouring  to  lay  up  a  portion  for 
them."  Why,  then,  do  you  not,  in  truth,  lay  up  a 
portion  for  them  ?    What !  will  you  lay  up  a  littlo 


THE  CHILD  OF  PROVIDENCE. 


33 


(lust,  and  call  that  a  portion  ?  Is  that  a  portion  for  an 
immortal  soul  ?  You  are  rather  hanging  a  millstone 
about  the  necks  of  your  children,  which  may  sink 
them  deeper  into  ruin.  You  may  thereby  tempt 
them  to  plunge  into  the  world :  and  there  they  may 
scatter  what  you  have  treasured  up,  and  called  a  por- 
tion !  The  Lord  is  my  portion^  saith  my  soul,  is  the 
declaration  of  David ;  and,  till  you  lead  your  chil- 
dren to  this  portion,  you  are  making  no  real  provi- 
sion for  them. 

Here  are  Schemers  before  me — persons  fond  of 
speculation !  Oh,  that  such  would  remember  what 
God  says,  by  the  prophet  Haggai,  on  this  subject : — 
Ye  looked  for  much :  and  lo  !  it  came  to  little  :  and, 
when  ye  brought  it  home,  I  did  blow  upon  it!  as  if  it 
were  mere  chaff,  that  he  could  blow  away  in  a  mo- 
ment. And  why  ?  Because,  saith  the  Lord  of  Hosts, 
of  my  house  that  is  rvaste  :  and  ye  run  evei-y  man  lo 
his  ozvn  house.  As  though  he  had  said,  You  do  not 
consider,-that  there  is  a  better  part,  which  cannot  be 
taken  away  :  and  I  mean  to  pour  contempt  on  such  a 
miserable  scheme  as  this,  ancl  to  show  the  vanity  and 
vexation  of  spirit  of  every  thing  under  the  sun, 
unless  you  enjov  it  hy  faith,  and  under  the  favour  of 
God." 

He  says  again,  in  the  second  chapter.  Since  those 
days  were,  when  one  came  to  a  heap  of  twenty  mea- 
sures, there  were  but  ten  ;  when  one  came  to  the  press- 
fat,  for  to  draw  out  fifty  vessels  out  of  the  press,  there 
7uere  but  twenty:  I  smote  you  7vith  blasting,  and  with 
mildew,  and  with  hail,  in  all  the  labours  of  your  hands  : 
yet  ye  turned  not  to  me,  sailh  the  Lord.  But  he  tells 
them,  soon  after,  that,  in  returning  to  him,  they  should 
find  the  vine,  and  the  f  g-trec,  and  the  pomegranate,  and 
the  olive-tree  bring  forth  ;  and  that  from  that  day  he 
would  bless  them.  They  are  all  his  creatures,  and 
shall  do  what  he  commands. 

One  thing,  therefore,  the  Schemer  lacks : — one 

VOT,.  II.  4* 


34 


thing,  which  he  would  find  needful,  if  he  understood 
its  value — a  saving  acquaintance  with  God !  Abra- 
ham felt  his  need  of  God,  and  therefore  gave  up  even 
Isaac  at  his  bidding.  Let  us  learn  to  seek  his  favour, 
and  to  take  his  word  as  our  best  security. 

2.  Let  us,  if  we  would  be  wise  as  the  Children 
of  Providence,   study   god's   method   with  his 

CHILDREN. 

Lawyers  look  into  Reports  of  Cases  in  order  to  be- 
come well  acquainted  with  points  on  which  they  are 
consulted.  In  arts  and  sciences,  cases  and  facts  are 
studied.  Wise  men  pay  especial  regard  to  facts. 
Let  us,  therefore,  as  Children  of  Providence,  do  the 
same.  Thou  meete^t  those,  says  the  prophet,  that  re- 
member thee  in  thy  rcays.  You  will  then  find  that 
God,  in  educating  his  child,  makes  him  feel  his  need 
— that  he  can  do  nothing  of  himself — that  he  cannot 
even  think  a  good  thought,  without  his  own  aid.  He 
will  teach  his  children  their  resources  :  he  will  make 
them  witnesses  to  others  :  he  will  teach  them  to  pray. 
"  Give  us  this  day  our  daily  bread.  Feed  7ne  with 
food  convenient  for  me.  Thou  canst  make  the  barrel 
of  meal  not  to  fail,  and  the  cruise  of  oil  still  to  sup- 
ply my  wants  :  therefore  leave  me  not  to  carnal  con- 
trivances." 

3.  You,  who  are  poor  in  this  world,  learn,  from  this 
history,  to  obtain  a  more  intimate  acquaintance 

WITH  ONE  that  WAS  ONCE  A  VERY  POOR  MAN, 
AND   HAD   NOT   WHERE   TO   LAY   HIS  HEAD. 

He  will  teach  you,  "  My  grace  is  sufficient  for  thee  : 
for  my  strength  is  perfected  in  your  weakness.  I  can 
bring  you  into  no  situation,  in  which  I  cannot  sustain 
you.  This  will  sweeten  your  barrel  of  meal,  and 
sanctify  your  cruise  of  oil.  This  will  give  you  true 
content  with  your  lot ;  and  you  shall  be  able  to  see, 
that,  as  was  the  case  with  this  widow,  God,  who 
tcnows  your  wants,  will  supply  them  all  out  of  his 
riches  in  glory. 


THE  CHILD  OF  PROVIDENCE. 


35 


4.  As  WE  WOULD  WISH  FOR  GOD  TO  HONOUR 
OUR  FAITH,  SO  WE  MUST  HONOUR  DIVINE  DIREC- 
TION. 

You  must  go  to  God's  word,  not  walk  by  your  own 
fancy,  nor  consult  your  own  impressions.  Too  many 
religious  persons  forget  this.  They  say,  "  I  had  an 
impression  on  my  mind,  that  I  ought  to  do  such  a 
thing ;  therefore  I  do  it."  But  do  they  know  whence 
these  impressions  come?  They  may  spring  from  the 
vanity  of  their  own  hearts,  or  they  may  be  temptations 
of  Satan.  Impressions  are  not  our  rule  of  action. 
Honour,  therefore,  your  rule  of  direction,  if  you  would 
wish  God  to  honour  your  faith.  "  Man  does  not  live 
by  bread  alone,  but  by  every  word  that  proceedeth 
out  of  the  mouth  of  God." 

And  take  the  sense  of  Scripture,  not  merely  the 
letter.  Many  grievously  err  herein.  They  take  the 
letter,  without  regarding  the  sense  of  Scripture ;  and 
run  thereby  into  the  greatest  absurdities.  The  widow 
of  Zarephath  had  a  clear  and  express  assurance, 
that  this  was  the  word  of  the  Lord :  accordingly  the 
word  of  the  Lord  was  her  rule :  she  rested  on  the 
promise.  This  was  not  the  woman's  impression : 
this  was  not  her  fancy  :  she  was  not  giving  credit 
to  reports ;  but  she  knew  Elijah  to  be  the  prophet 
of  the  Lord,  and  that  he  spake  the  word  of  the  Lord 
to  her. 

But  here,  perhaps,  you  are  ready  to  say,  "  Thi? 
was  a  special  case :  she  had  sure  ground.  If  I  had 
such  assurances,  I  could  act  upon  it,  and  be  satisfied. 
The  woman  could  not  doubt  that  the  Lord  had  sent 
his  prophet  to  her." 

But  no  person  on  earth,  in  any  former  time,  had 
the  word  of  God  sent  to  him  for  any  purpose  more 
important  than  that  for  which  we  have  it  put  into  our 
hands.  For,  "  behold !  a  greater  than  Elijah  is  here  ! 
God,  who,  at  sundry  times  and  in  divers  manners, 
spake,  in  time  past,  unto  the  fathers  by  the  prophets. 


36 


SERMON  III. 


hath,  in  these  last  days,  spoken  unto  us  by  his  Son.'' 
And  when  his  Son  was  upon  earth,  Elijah  gave  testi- 
mony to  him  :  and  delivered  up  to  him,  as  it  were,  his 
commission.  This  is  the  Great  Prophet!  What, 
then,  does  he  say !  What  is  the  word  of  this  Great 
Prophet  to  you  and  to  me  ?  "  Seek  ye  first  the  king- 
dom of  God  and  his  righteousness  and  all  things  else 
shall  be  added  unto  you  :''  they  shall  be  thrown  in,  as 
it  were;  shall  be  added  unto  you.  Thus,  while  this 
widow  seemed  to  give  up  her  all  for  a  word  spoken  to 
hpr,  while  she  gives  up  her  meal  and  her  oil  for  a 
bond,  we  may  say,  with  Bishop  Hall  on  the  passage. 
"  Never  did  corn  or  olive  so  increase  in  growing,  as 
here  in  consuming."  She  gained  the  support  ol 
many  days,  by  giving  up  the  last  meal  when  God 
called  for  it,  and  which  perhaps  would  not  have  sus- 
tained her  and  her  child  for  a  single  day. 

You  see,  therefore,  my  dear  hearers,  hard  as  these 
limes  are,  and  much  as  1  doubt  not  many  must  suffer 
in  the  present  season,  that  you  are  yet  called  to  honour 
God  in  the  fire:  and,  depend  upon  it,  he  will  honour 
you  in  return.  Learn  to  say,  with  Habakkuk, 
*'  Though  the  fig-tree  shall  not  blossom,  and  thougli 
ihere  be  no  fruit  in  the  vine,  nor  cattle  in  the  stall, 
yet  will  I  joy  in  the  Lord,  and  rejoice  in  the  God  of 
my  salvation." 

There  is  another  consideration,  which  can  be  an- 
nexed to  nothing  but  to  the  faith  of  the  Christian. 
We  are  to  be  here  but  a  few  days ;  but  the  same 
Providence,  that  leads  us  through  these  few  days  in 
life,  engages  to  lead  us  also  even  through  death, 
that  we  may  fear  no  evil.  Therefore,  says  the 
Psalmist,  "  though  I  walk  through  the  valley  of  the 
shadow  of  death,  I  will  fear  no  evil :  for  thou  art 
with  me !" 

May  God  enable  every  one  of  us  to  depend  on 
him,  in  the  same  exercise  of  faith  and  grace  ;  and  thus 
glorify  our  Father  which  is  in  heaven  ! 


SERMON  IV 


THE  PENITENCE  OF  KING  JOSIAll 

2  Kings,  xxii,  19. 

Ijecau5e  thy  heart  was  tender,  and  thou  hast  humbled  thyself  be- 
fore the  Lord,  when  thou  heardst  what  I  spake  against  this 
place,  and  against  the  inhabitants  thereof,  that  they  should  be- 
come a  desolation  and  a  curse,  and  hast  rent  thy  clotlies,  and  wept 
before  me  ;  1  also  have  heard  thee  saith  the  Lord. 

The  Bible  is  written  with  a  very  different  design  from 
other  histories.  Other  histories  may  be  written  gene- 
rally to  instruct  or  to  amuse  :  but  the  Bible  is  written 
that  we  may  know  the  God  who  made  us,  and  the  God 
who  will  judge  us  ;  and  that  we  may  know  his  mind 
concerning  us,  before  we  stand  in  judgment  at  his  bar. 

We  here  find,  therefore,  a  great  number  of  Facts 
stated  to  us. — Historical  Facts  :  and  they  are  stated 
to  us  as  Cases.  They  are  Cases,  in  which  God  dis- 
covers his  mind  concerning  this  or  that  man,  this  or 
that  thing. 

One  of  these  cases  is  before  us  :  "  Hilkiah  the  high 
priest,  said  unto  Shaphan,  the  scribe,  I  have  found  the 
book  of  the  law  in  the  house  of  the  Lord.  And  Sha- 
phan the  scribe  shoAved  the  king,  saying,  Hilkiah  the 
priest  hath  delivered  me  a  book  :  and  Shaphan  read  it 
before  the  king.  And  when  the  king  had  heard  the 
words  of  the  book  of  the  law,  he  rent  his  clothes. 
And  the  king  commanded  Hilkiah  the  priest,  and  Ahi- 
kam  the  son  of  Shaphan,  and  Achbor  the  son  of  Mi- 
chaiah,  and  Shaphan  the  scribe,  and  Asahiah  a  servant 
of  the  king's,  saying.  Go  ye,  inquire  of  the  Lord  for 
me,  and  for  the  people,  and  for  all  Judah,  concerning 


SERMON  IV. 


the  words  of  this  book  that  is  found  :  for  great  is  the 
wrath  of  the  Lord  that  is  kindled  against  us,  because 
our  fathers  have  not  hearkened  unto  the  words  of  this 
book,  to  do  according  unto  all  that  which  is  written 
concerning  us.  They  went  therefore,  unto  Huldah,  a 
prophetess,  the  wife  of  Shallum.  And  she  said  unto 
them  :  Thus  saith  the  Lord  God  of  Israel,  Tell  the 
man  that  sent  you  to  me.  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  Behold. 
T  will  bring  evil  upon  this  place,  and  upon  the  inhabit- 
ants thereof,  even  all  the  words  of  the  book  which  the 
king  of  Judah  hath  read.  Because  they  have  for- 
saken me,  and  have  burnt  incense  unto  other  gods, 
that  they  might  provoke  me  to  anger  with  all  the  works 
of  their  hands,  therefore  my  wrath  shall  be  kindled 
against  this  place,  and  shall  not  be  quenched.  But  to 
the  king  of  Judah,  which  sent  you  to  inquire  of  the 
Lord,  thus  shall  ye  say  to  him,  Thus  saith  the  Lord 
God  of  Israel,  as  touching  the  words  which  thou  hast 
heard :  Because  thy  heart  was  tender,  and  thou  hast 
humbled  thyself  before  the  Lord,  when  thou  heardst 
what  I  spake  against  this  place,  and  against  the  in- 
habitants thereof,  that  they  should  become  a  desola- 
tion and  a  curse,  and  hast  rent  thy  clothes  and  wept 
before  me  :  I  also  have  heard  thee,  saith  the  Lord. 
Behold,  therefore,  I  will  gather  thee  unto  thy  fathers, 
and  thou  shalt  be  gathered  unto  thy  grave  in  peace, 
and  thine  eyes  shall  not  see  all  the  evil  which  I  will 
bring  upon  this  place.  And  they  brought  the  king 
word  again." 

From  the  words  of  the  text,  as  they  stand  connected 
with  this  part  of  sacred  history,  I  propose, 

First,  to  notice,  in  King  Josiah,  the  evidences  of 

A*CONTRITE  SPIRIT. 

And,  secondly,  The  regard  which  god  is  pleas 

ED  TO  show  to  such  A  CONTRITE  SPIRIT. 

L  Let  us  notice  the  CONTRITE  SPIRIT  of  King 
losiah. 

1.  You  will  observe  in  the  king  a  most  affection- 
ate AND  REVERENTIAL  REGARD  TO  GOD's  WORD. 


THE  jeENITENCE  OF  KING  JOSIAH.  39 


It  came  to  pass  when  the  king  heard  the  words  of  the. 
hook  of  the  Law,  that  he  rent  his  clothes.  You  are  to 
distinguish  such  a  regard  as  this  to  the  word  of  the 
TiOrd,  from  the  suggestions  of  a  scrupulous  conscience. 
A  scrupulous  mind  torments  itself  with  every  super- 
"■titious  notion  which  enters  it.  Such  a  conscience  is 
to  be  distinguished,  therefore,  from  a  tender  con- 
science. A  tender  conscience  is  an  inestimable  bles- 
sing, as  we  see  in  the  text ;  but  a  scrupulous  con- 
science does  nothing  but  torment  a  man.  He  has 
marked  some  omen,  some  tradition,  some  sign  ;  and 
therefore  he  is  uneasy  :  he  has  made  sin,  where  Goc! 
has  made  no  sin  :  in  short,  he  disregards  what  the  Lord 
hath  spoken.  But  this  was  not  the  case  with  King 
Josiah  :  it  was  on  hearing  the  word  of  the  Lord  that 
he  rent  his  clothes  :  he  found  the  standard,  and  he  saw 
how  far  the  nation  and  himself  fell  short  of  that  stand- 
ard. This  is  the  mark  of  a  truly  humble  and  contrite 
man  ;  that  he  regards  the  standard  which  God  sets  up. 
and  acknowledges  how  far  below  that  standard  he  falls. 

2.  It  is  a  second  proof  of  a  contrite  mind,  that  it 

SEEKS  INFORMATION. 

The  king  not  only  heard  the  words  of  the  book,  bu( 
he  said.  Go  ye,  inquire  of  the  Lord  for  me,  and  for  the 
people  :  and  they  went  to  Huldah,  a  prophetess.  Hul- 
dah,  though  a  woman,  was  in  office.  It  pleased  God 
to  endue  her  with  a  spirit  of  prophecy.  And  she  said. 
Thus  saith  the  Lord,  Behold,  I  will  bring  evil  upon  this 
place,  and  upon  the  inhabitants  thereof,  even  all  the 
ibords  of  the  book  which  the  king  of  Judah  hath  read. 
In  consequence  of  this  denunciation,  the  king  was  wil- 
ling to  bow  down  to  the  word  of  the  Lord,  and  accept 
of  forgiveness  in  any  way  God  was  pleased  to  send  it. 
How  far  was  this  spirit  from  that  of  the  proud  and 
sceptical  man,  who  will  undertake  to  think  for  himself 
in  matters  too  high  for  him,  and  is  unwilling  to  receive 
advice  at  all  in  God's  way  !  A  man  of  such  a  contrite 
spirit  as  Josiah's  will  not  only  read  the  word  of  God 
himself,  but  thank  God  that  ho  can  hear  it  in  any  way. 


40 


SERMON  IV. 


3.  You  will  observe  in  this  contrite  spirit,  a  bow- 

tNG  DOWN  TO  THE  CHARGE  WHICH  GOD  BRINGS 
AGAINST   THE  MAN. 

The  king  did  not  stand  to  reason  on  the  matter. 
He  did  not  say,  "  We  are  all  born  with  evil  disposi- 
tions. How  can  a  man  help  the  temper  of  mind 
which  he  brings  into  the  world  ?  The  weakness  of  hu- 
man nature  will  plead  for  the  guilt  of  human  nature." 
Nothing  of  this !  He  rends  his  clothes,  in  token  of  his 
astonishmment  and  self-abhorrence  :  and  it  is  said,  in 
the  text,  that  his  heart  was  tender,  contrite,  soft :  it  is 
i^aid,  that  he  humbled  himself  before  the  Lord^  when 
he  had  heard  what  he  had  spoken ;  and  that  he  not 
only  rent  his  clothes — that  any  man  may  do,  if  he  is 
disposed  to  make  a  show — but  it  is  added,  thou  hast 
xoept  before  me.  A  pharisee  would  stand  and  enume- 
rate his  good  deeds.  Josiah  might  have  done  this,  for 
he  was  a  man  of  unfeigned  piety :  but  on  the  contrary, 
he  looks  only  at  the  defects,  and  follies,  and  corrup- 
tions of  man  ;  and,  comparing  them  with  the  holiness 
of  God,  and  the  purity  of  his  law,  he  rends  his  clothes 
and  cries  unto  the  Lord. 

4.  You  see  here  a  further  evidence  of  such  a  state 
of  mind,  in  that,  instead  of  desponding  under  this  view 
of  sin,  the  king  betakes  himself  to  prayer  and 

SUPPLICATION. 

He  not  only  inquires,  but  God  declares  that  he  had 
humbled  himself:  he  had  sought  deliverance,  and  God 
promises  that  he  should  be  heard.  There  is  a  stub- 
born spirit  in  us :  it  is  in  human  nature.  When  any 
difficulty  arises,  we  sit  down  in  despondency.  Like 
the  sluggard,  we  are  ready  to  say,  "  There  is  a  lion  in 
the  streets  :  I  cannot  go  out :  I  cannot  pass  :  Why 
should  I  wait  for  the  Lord  any  longer  ?  But  not  so  this 
man  :  he  knew  that,  though  he  was  unworthy,  yet  he 
might  seek  the  Lord,  and  find  him  in  any  condition  or 
circumstances.  Instead,  therefore,  of  falling  into  an 
obstinate  and  hardened  state  of  mind,  he  has  recourse 


THE  PENITENCE  OF  KING  JOSIAH. 


41 


lo  prayer,  he  makes  use  of  means,  and  he  waits  to  see 
whether  God  will  be  gracious  or  not. 

These  are  the  marks  of  a  contrite  and  humble  spi- 
rit, as  observed  in  this  king.  There  is  no  question 
l)at  his  mind  was  a  right  mind  :  and,  therefore,  he  is  an 
example  to  this  day. 

II.  We  are,  secondly,  to  remark  the  REGARD 
WHICH  GOD  IS  PLEASED  TO  SHOW  TO 
SUCH  A  CONTRITE  SPIRIT. 

By  the  word  of  the  prophetess,  the  Lord  asserts 
his  honour  and  truth,  and  his  regard  to  his  declara- 
tions ;  and  that  he  would  bring  evil  upon  the  place, 
and  upon  the  inhabitants  thereof^  even  every  word  that 
he  had  spoken. 

Men  may  forget  God's  word ;  but  He  does  not  for- 
get it.  Men  may  say.  Tush!  thou,  Lord,  zcilt  not 
regard  it ;  but  the  text  shows  us  the  contrary. 

"  But,"  saith  the  Lord,  "  though  I  will  visit  the 
iniquity  of  this  people,  and  will  demonstrate  my  holi- 
ness in  bearing  a  protest  against  that  which  my  soul 
abhorreth  ;  when  sooner  or  later,  the  sinner  shall  know 
that  it  is  impossible  for  him  to  contend  with  me,  and 
prosper ;  yet  inasmuch  as  thy  heart  was  tender  when 
I  spake,  I  have  seen  it,  I  have  marked  it.  I  saw  thee 
when  thou  humbledst  thyself  before  me  :" — an  humili- 
ation, perhaps,  in  private,  before  God ;  when  no  eye 
saw,  but  the  eye  of  the  Lord.  "  I  heard  thee  and  I 
marked  thy  tears,"  he  seems  to  say  :  "  and  I  send  thee 
now  word,  that  I  have  heard  thy  prayers :  and  I  tell 
thee  that  I  will  gather  thee  unto  thy  fathers  in  peace, 
and  thine  eyes  shall  not  see  the  evil  which  I  will  bring 
upon  this  place.  Get,  therefore,  into  thy  chamber : 
shut  thy  doors  about  thee  :  hide  thyself  for  a  little 
while,  till  the  indignation  is  past.  I  will  cover  thee 
with  the  shadow  of  my  wings.  Them  that  honour 
me,  1  will  honour :  thou  hast  honoured  me,  and  I  will 
put  honour  upon  thee.  Thou  hast  been  solitary  here- 
in, but  I  will  put  public  honour  on  thy  solitary  faith." 

VOL.  II.  5 


42 


SERMON  IV. 


This  is  by  no  means,  however,  a  solitary  instance 
of  the  Lord's  acting  in  this  manner :  for  even  when 
wicked  Ahab  humbled  himself  before  God,  he  recei- 
ved a  message  that  at  least  he  himself  should  not  be 
made  a  public  example  in  the  overthrow  of  his  coun- 
try. When  the  men  of  Ninevah  prayed  and  humbled 
themselves  before  God,  on  hearing  his  will  by  the 
mouth  of  Jonah,  he  marked  their  humiliation,  and 
showed  to  it  a  special  regard  :  for  Blessed  are  the  poor 
inspirit:  blessed  is  the  man  that  can  come  down,  when 
God  rises  up.  God  resisteth  the  proud,  but  he  giveth 
grace  unto  the  humble.  Thus  saith  the  high  and  Lofty 
One,  that  inhabiteth  eternity,  whose  name  is  holy,  I 
dwell  in  the  high  and  holy  place  ;  with  him  also  that  is 
humble  and  of  a  contrite  spirit,  and  that  trembleth  at 
my  words,  to  revive  the  spirit  of  the  humble,  and  to 
revive  the  heart  of  the  contrite  ones.  "  Go,"  as  if  he 
had  said,  "  and  read  my  history,  from  beginning  to 
end ;  and  you  will  find  that  one  great  leading  charac- 
teristic of  my  government  is,  that,  while  I  resist  the 
proud,  I  give  grace  unto  the  humble." 

Brethren !  there  are  few,  I  suppose,  present,  who 
would  attempt  to  deny  any  of  these  truths  :  but  let  us 
beware  that  we  do  not  rest  in  the  public  confession 
and  acknowledgment  of  general  truths.  The  word 
that  was  read  in  the  ears  of  Josiah,  is  the  word  that  is 
read  in  our  ears  every  Sabbath  Day :  so  that  we,  as 
well  as  the  king,  are  favoured  with  knowing  the  mind 
of  God.  But  now  the  grand  question  that  we  have  to 
ask  ourselves,  is  this,  What  is  the  state  of  our  mind? 
on  hearing  this  word  ?  We  have  seen  what  the  Lord 
marked  in  Josiah :  but  the  question  is,  what  he  is 
marking  at  this  time  in  us  ;  for  every  one  of  us  must 
give  an  account  of  himself  to  God. 

A  great  multitude  heard  the  word  of  God  on  the 
day  of  its  being  discovered ;  but  they  remained  as 
they  were  before.  One  went  to  his  farm,  and  said, 
■  The  word  of  the  Lord  hath  been  preached :"  bui 


THE  PENITENCE  OF  KING  JOSIAH. 


43 


concerned  himself  no  further.  Another  went  to  his 
merchandize,  and  carried  the  news.  Another  married 
a  wife,  and  forgot  every  thing  that  was  said.  But  God 
has  said  ;  I  will  bring  evil  and  destruction  upon  the 
man  that  forgets  me" — for  the  wicked  shall  be  turned 
into  hell,  and  all  the  nations  that  forget  God! — Let  us 
apply  the  case  to  ourselves.  We  have  heard,  as  the 
king  and  his  people  did,  the  word  of  God.  We  now 
know  his  mind ;  for  he  changes  not :  he  is  the  same 
now  as  he  was  then,  and  must  continue  unchanged  to 
all  eternity. 

Let  us  then  ask  ourselves,  What  effect  has  the  word 
of  God  had  upon  us  !  Do  we  remain  as  we  were  be- 
lore  we  heard  it  ?  Are  we  walking  after  the  course  of 
this  world F  Has  the  word  no  place  nor  authority  in 
our  consciences  ?  Has  it  never  brought  a  charge 
against  us  as  sinners  ?  Has  it  never  put  us  on  praying 
to  God,  that  we  may  be  delivered  according  to  the 
multitude  of  his  mercies  ?  Has  he  never  seen  our 
hearts  tender  ?  Has  he  never  marked  that  we  have 
humbled  ourselves  before  God,  when  we  heard  what 
he  spake  in  his  word  ?  If  we  have  never  rent  our 
clothes,  yet  have  we  never  wept  before  him  ? — Cer- 
tain it  is,  then,  that,  whatever  we  think  of  ourselves, 
we  may  know  from  this  history  the  mind  of  the  Lord 
concerning  us  : — We  have  heard  the  word  of  God  as 
the  Israelites  did ;  but  it  has  not  been  mixed  with 
faith  in  us  who  have  heard  it. 

fVho  hath  believed  our  report  ?  says  the  prophet. 
TVhat  is  this  report  ? — that  we  have  erred  and  strayed 
like  lost  sheep,  and  that  there  is  a  Shepherd  who  has 
laid  down  his  life  for  sinners,  and  proclaims  his  mercy 
in  their  ears,  and  calls  them  that  they  may  come  to 
liim  and  have  life. 

Do  you  ask  me,  why  such  good  news  as  this  is  not 
received?  Because  men's  hearts  are  not  tender: 
They  have  not  humbled  themselves  before  the  Lord, 
like  this  prince.    They  never  rent  their  clothes,  nor 


44 


SERMON  IV. 


wept  over  their  condition:  and,  therefore,  being  yet 
hard-hearted,  proud,  and  unbeheving,  they  cannot  re- 
ceive the  truth.  The  seed  may  be  sown,  and  it  may 
be  good  seed  ;  but  the  ground  of  their  hearts  is  either 
hard,  or  stony,  or  thorny,  and  there  is  no  fruit  brought 
to  perfection. 

If  1  am  preaching  to  any  persons  in  such  a  state  as 
this,  it  becomes  me  to  exhort  them  to  pray  earnestly 
to  God,  who  is  sowing  the  seed,  that  he  would  prepare 
the  ground  of  their  hearts  :  that  he  would  give  them 
this  tenderness  of  heart,  this  humility  of  spirit,  tears 
of  true  repentance,  lively  faith,  and  a  hope  that 
maketh  not  ashamed.  Then  they  will  understand  the 
text  experimentally,  better  than  1  can  explain  it. 
And  they  shall  understand,  moreover,  that  God,  who 
promised  his  blessing  and  mercy  to  Josiah,  has  also 
blessing  and  mercy  in  store  for  every  contrite  and  be- 
lieving soul. 

Am  I  speaking,  as  I  trust  1  am,  to  those  whose 
hearts  God  has,  by  his  grace,  made  tender ;  proud 
and  hard  as  they  are  by  nature  ?  Hast  thou  humbled 
thyself  before  him  ?  Hast  thou  laid  to  heart  what  he 
declares  concerning  a  wicked  and  unbelieving  world,, 
and  what  shall  be  its  end  ?  Dost  thou  believe  his 
threatenings  as  well  as  his  promises  ?  Dost  thou  be- 
lieve that  the  end  of  the  wicked  shall  be,  that  they 
shall  become  a  desolation  and  a  curse,  as  the  text  ex- 
presses it  ?  and  hast  thou,  as  one  wicked  by  nature, 
wept  before  him ;  so  that  he  may  say  concerning 
thee,  as  he  did  concerning  Ephraim,  "  I  have  surely 
heard  Ephraim  bemoan  himself:"  1  have  heard  him 
say,  "  Thou  hast  chastised  me,  and  I  was  chastised, 
as  a  bullock  unaccustomed  to  the  yoke  :  turn  thou  me, 
and  I  shall  be  turned?"  Hast  thou  thus  wept  before 
the  Lord  ?  take  then  thy  comfort  from  the  words  of 
the  text,  for  they  are  good  words,  and  comfortahh 
words  to  such  a  heart  as  thine. 


THE  PENITENCE  OF  KING  JOSIAII.  id 


The  state  that  I  am  describing,  which  was  the  state 
<jf  the  king's  heart,  will  be  a  token  for  good,  and  a 
pledge  of  God's  future  favour;  for  the  evangelical 
promise  is  fulfilled: — "I  will  take  away  the  stony 
heart,  and  give  a  heart  of  flesh  :  I  will  enable  a  man 
to  feel,  who  did  not  feel :  I  will  enable  a  man  to 
listen,  who  did  not  listen :  I  will  enable  a  man  to 
submit  to.  my  righteousness,  who  used  to  glory  and 
boast  in  his  own." 

Proud  unbelieving  persons  with  whom  you  may 
live,  may  sneer  at  what  God  has  wrought,  and  attempt 
to  put  a  misconstruction  on  what  you  are  endeavour- 
ing to  do :  in  their  ignorance  and  pride,  ihey  may  say, 
lhat  you  are  become  a  stranger — a  singular  character : 
that  you  have  lost  your  courage  and  your  spirit ;  that 
you  could  once  resent  things  and  revenge  yourself, 
but  that  now  you  walk  humbly  before  God,  and  com- 
mit all  to  him.  They  may  scorn  that  Gospel,  with 
its  promises  and  thrcatenings,  which  you  now  believe, 
and  to  which  you  now  bow  down. 

But  are  such  persons  as  these  to  be  heard  ?  are 
men  like  these,  though  they  walk  on  every  side,  and 
talk  proudly,  are  they  to  judge  ? 

No!  Brethren!  we  will  hear  the  judge  himself. 
We  will  hear  his  sentiment  on  this  subject :  and  may 
God  grant,  that  wc  may  determine  to  abide  by  that 
judgment,  and  by  no  other:  that  will  bear  us  out  ia 
time,  and  that  will  bear  us  out  to  eternity.  Now, 
says  the  Judge,  "  Two  men  went  up  into  the  temple 
to  pray ;  the  one  a  pharisee  and  the  other  a  publican. 
The  pharisee  stood  and  prayed  thus  with  himself: 
God,  I  thank  thee,  that  I  am  not  as  other  men  are, 
extortioners,  unjust,  adulterers,  or  even  as  this  publi- 
can :  I  fast  twice  in  the  week  :  I  give  tithes  of  all  that 
1  possess."  But  "  the  publican,  standing  afar  off, 
would  not  lift  up  so  much  as  his  eyes  unto  heaven" — 
his  heart  was  tender  and  contrite — "  but  smote  upon 
his  breast,  saying,  God  be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner!" 

VOL.  II.  5* 


46 


SERMON  IV. 


Now  hear  the  Judge,  "  I  tell  you,  this  man  went  down 
to  his  house  justified  rather  than  the  other:  for  every 
one  that  exalteth  himself  shall  be  abased  ;  and  he  that 
humbleth  himself  shall  be  exalted." 

He,  who  can  thus  sit  at  the  feet  of  mercy,  and 
listen  to  the  voice  of  God,  like  Mary : — he,  who  can 
go,  like  Magdalen,  to  the  tomb,  pouring  out  his  tears, 
and  looking  after  a  Saviour :  he,  who,  like  the  woman 
in  Simon's  house,  can  bow  down  before  him,  and 
wash  his  feet  with  her  tears,  and  wipe  them  with  her 
hair :  "•  Thus  saith  the  Lord  God  of  Israel"  to  thai 
man,  "  Because  thy  heart  is  tender,  and  thou  hast 
humbled  thyself  before  me,  and  wept.  I  have  heard 
thee-,"  and  "I  will  gather  thee  lo  thy  grave  in 
peace." 


SERMON  V. 


.    EZRA  AN  EXAMPLE  IN  BUSINESS 

Ezra,  viii,  21,  22,  23. 

I'lieii  I  proclaimed  a  fast  there,  at  the  river  Ahava,  that  we  luighl 
afflict  ourselves  before  our  God ;  to  seek  of  him  a  right  way  for 
us,  and  for  our  little  ones,  and  for  all  our  substance.  For  I  wa- 
ashamed  to  require  of  the  king  a  band  of  soldiers  and  horsemen, 
to  help  us  against  the  enemy  in  the  way;  because  we  had  spoken 
unto  the  king,  saying,  The  hand  of  our  God  is  upon  all  them  for 
jood  that  seek  him,  but  his  power  and  his  wrath  is  against  all 
them  that  forsake  him.  So  we  fasted,  and  besought  our  God  for 
this ;  and  he  was  entreated  of  us. 

As  a  man  loves  gold,  in  that  proportion  he  hates  to 
be  imposed  upon  by  counterfeits :  and  in  proportion 
as  a  man  has  a  regard  for  that  which  is  above  price, 
and  better  than  gold,  he  abhors  that  hypocrisy  which 
is  but  its  counterfeit. 

Not  only  will  the  word  of  God  bear  its  testimony 
against  all  that  is  false  and  hypocritical,  but  his  work 
will  do  this.  His  work  in  the  heart  of  every  godly 
man  shall  stand  as  his  witness  against  false  characters 
in  the  great  day :  for  it  shall  then  be  found,  that  in 
every  station  and  occupation  of  life,  the  grace  of 
God  could  live  in  that  station  and  in  that  occupation, 
whether  the  man  were  a  king  or  a  beggar. 

The  circumstances  in  which  Ezra  was  placed 
were  as  difficult  as  can  be  conceived.  He  had  to 
contend  with  the  scorn  and  opposition  of  pagans,  and 
with  the  corruption  of  Jews.  He  bears  up  under  his 
difficulties :  he  labours  through  them  :  he  endures  us 
seeing  him  who  is  invisible. 


SERMON  V. 


In  speaking  of  Ezra,  I  shall  call  your  attention  to 

His  humiliation  : 

His  faith  : 

His  prayer  : 

His  holy  jealousy,  and 

His  success*  * 

I.  His  HUMinATION  before  God. 

/  proclaimed,  says  he,  a  fast  there  at  the  river 
Ahava,  that  we  might  ajfflict  ourselves  before  our  God. 
Voa  see  how  a  man  must  set  out,  who  hopes  to  suc- 
ceed. I  think  it  was  Saint  Austin  who  said,  "  The 
first  thing  in  religion  is  humility ;  and  the  second 
thing  is  humility  ;  and  the  third  thing  is  humility." 
The  truth  is,  my  dear  friends,  there  is  nothing  done 
aright  where  a  man  does  not  take  a  right  plan :  and 
what  is  the  right  plan  for  an  ungrateful  sinner? — a 
rebel  ? — a  creature  that  has  long  fought  against  God, 
and  is  at  length  recovered  by  his  power  and  sovereign 
mercy  ?  Was  pride  made  for  such  a  creature  ? 

The  professing  world  need  instruction  on  this 
point,  as  well  as  the  carnal  world.  For  when  we 
hear  people  quarrelsome,  who  yet  profess  to  be  reli- 
gious— asserting  their  rights  on  every  occasion,  even 
to  punctiliousness — talking,  in  a  high  tone,  "I  will, 
not  endure  this  ! — I'll  not  be  put  upon  !" — "  What 
meaneth,"  as  Samuel  said  to  Saul,  if  the  word  and 
the  will  of  God  be  properly  regarded,  "  what  meaneth 
this  bleating  of  the  sheep  in  mine  ears,  and  this  lowing 
of  the  oxen  which  I  hear?"  This  is  utterly  incon- 
sistent with  the  Christian  character.  A  Christian  is 
professedly  a  suffering  man — a  man  of  an  humble 
mind,  looking  to  God — avenging  not  himself — kind — 
bearing  injuries — .forgiving  them — praying  for  enemies 
— doing  good  even  to  those  who  despitefully  use  and 
persecute  him. 

I  would  not  proceed,  says  Ezra,  till  there  had  been 
a  public  abasement  of  ourselves  before  God :  till 
there  had  been  a  fast  and  prayer,  to  show,  that  while 


49 


we  sought  the  blessing,  we  acknowledged  ourselves 
utterly  unworthy  of  it. 

Brethren !  business  with  heaven  is  best  transacted 
with  humility !  "  Behold,'  now,"  says  Abraham,  I 
have  taken  upon  me  to  speak  unto  the  Lord,  which 
am  but  dust  and  ashes !  Oh !  Let  not  the  Lord  be 
angry,  and  I  will  speak  but  this  once." 

II.  We  remark,  secondly,  the  FAITH  of  Ezra. 

What  was  his  faith  ?  It  was  that  which  the  Apostle 
mentions  in  the  eleventh  chapter  of  the  Epistle  to  the 
Hebrews.  It  was  "  the  substance  of  things  hoped  for,^ 
the  evidence  of  things  not  seen."  It  was  the  viewing 
and  taking  hold  of  thie  protection  of  the  invisible 
God :  for  "  I  proclaimed  a  fast,  that  we  might  afflict 
ourselves  before  our  God,  to  seek  of  him  a  right  way, 
for  us,  and  for  our  little  ones,  and  for  all  our  sub- 
stance." It  was  as  if  Ezra  had  said,  as  Moses  said 
before  him,  "  If  thy  presence  go  not  with  us,  carry  us 
not  7ip  hence.  We  are  going  to  Jerusalem  :  our  inten- 
tion is  to  set  up  the  house  of  God :  and  to  take  ad- 
vantage of  his  touching  the  heart  of  Cyrus  and  the 
other  kings  of  the  earth,  who  now  begin  to  think  of 
the  honour  of  God,  and  to  give  us  countenance.  We 
are  going  on  this  business,  and  there  are  multitudes  of 
robbers  in  the  way  :  if  God  protect  us  not  by  the  way 
which  we  have  to  travel,  if  he  turn  not  back  the  de- 
signs of  the  evil  men  through  whom  we  must  pass, 
with  the  treasure  which  we  have  to  carry,  it  is  in  vaia 
to  attempt  to  make  our  way.  But  all  things  are  in 
God's  hand.  He  does  as  he  will  among  the  armies 
of  heaven,  and  among  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth. 
God  only  can  afford  us  protection  at  this  time :  he 
only  can  teach  us  the  right  way :  he  only  can  guard 
us  and  cover  our  substance :  he  only  can  give  us  a 
right  aim;  and  can  enable  us  to  place  on  him  that 
simple  dependence,  which  creatures  ought  always  to 
place  on  God:  he  only  can  point  out  the  right  zmy, 


^0 


SERMON  \ . 


for  us,  for  our  little  ones,  and  for  all  our  sxjtbstance. 
My  grand  affair,  therefore,  is  with  him." 

This  is  faith.  This  it  is  to  endure,  as  seeing  hint 
who  is  invisible. 

III.  Let  us  proceed  to  his  PRAYER. 

So  roe  fasted  and  besought  our  God  for  this. 

No  men  seem  more  engaged  in  business,  or  more 
4ualified  for  business,  than  Ezra,  Nehemiah,  and 
Daniel : — men  in  high  offices,  and  men  of  eminent 
abilities.  Do  you  recollect  any  instance,  in  which 
greater  confidence  was  exercised,  and  a  more  entire 
looking  to  God  discovered,  than  by  Ezra  ?  It  was 
equally  so  with  Nehemiah.  He  was  a  man  of  busi- 
ness :  yet  he  seems .  to  say,  "  I  set  myself  to  the 
work :  my  heart  was  in  it :  my  plan  was  laid :  but, 
before  I  spoke  to  the  king  on  the  business,  I  spoke  to 
God.  I  said,  '  O  Lord,  touch  this  man's  heart,  be- 
fore he  gives  me  the  answer ;  that  it  may  be  thy  an- 
swer though  spoken  by  his  lips.'  "  So,  in  the  case  of 
Daniel,  his  heart  was  set  on  the  honour  of  his  God : 
and  you  find  him  treating  with  God  continually,  and 
carrying  all  his  concerns  to  him :  so  that  the  transac- 
tion, from  beginning  to  end,  was  a  transaction  with 
God.  Now  these  are  men  of  the  highest  eminence, 
and  of  first-rate  abilities ;  but  as  eminent  for  faith, 
and  for  a  spirit  of  prayer. 

Are  yoii  a  man  of  business  ? — Perhaps  you  say,  "  I 
am :  and  so  much  a  man  of  business,  that  I  have  no 
time  for  prayer  in  my  family :  I  have  no  time  for  reli- 
gion in  private  :  I  have  no  time  at  all  for  family  go- 
vernment. I  am  so  hurried,  I  live  in  such  a  bustle,  I 
am  carried  from  one  concern  to  another  in  such  a 
manner,  that  1  can  do  nothing  as  to  worship  in  my 
family." 

Nay,  you  understand  not  your  business  :  you  know 
not  how  to  transact  your  affairs.  .  Instead  of  pleading 
your  business,  as  the  reason  why  you  should  not  put. 
up  prayer  in  your  family,  and  look  to  God  for  help. 


EZRA  AN  EXAMPLE  IN  BUSINESS. 


51 


the  more  business  you  have  to  transact,  the  more  you 
ought  to  trust  and  to  pray.  It  is  the  grand  secret  of  a 
pious  man  in  conducting  his  affairs,  that  he  first  treat* 
with  God  about  them.  The  loicked  man,  says  Solo- 
mon, desireth  the  net  of  evil  men :  he  would  carrj 
every  point  by  crafty  management — by  sagacious  plans 
— by  artful  expedients  :  but  the  root  of  the  righteous 
i/ieldeth  fruit :  he  is  rooted  and  grounded  in  the  care 
and  favour  of  Him  who  has  the  keys  of  heaven  and 
earth,  and  manages  all  the  business  in  the  world  :  fruit 
is,  therefore,  yielded  to  him,  and  he  needs  not  the  net 
of  falsehood — the  subterfuges  and  the  miserable  con- 
trivances of  an  unbelieving  heart.  Ezra  was  thus  a 
man  of  prayer. 

IV.  There  is,  in  his  character,  a  strikine  feature 
also  of  HOLY  JEALOUSY. 

I  sought  of  the  Lord  "  a  right  way  for  us,  and  for 
our  little  ones,  and  for  all  our  substance.  For  I  was 
ashamed" — Pray  attend  to  this:  for  there  is  herein 
great  delicacy,  and  much  holy  tenderness  of  con- 
science. They  expected  to  meet  robbers  in  the  way ; 
and  might,  by  asking,  have  obtained  a  band  of  soldiers 
of  the  king:  but — "I  was  ashamed!  I  was  ashamed 
to  require  of  the  king  a  band  of  soldiers  and  horse- 
men, to  help  us  against  the  enemy  in  the  way :  because 
we  had  spoken  unto  the  king  ;  saying.  The  hand  of 
our  God  is  upon  all  them  for  good  that  seek  him." 
\s  if  he  had  said,  "  I  would  not  have  the  king  suppose 
while  I  profess  to  trust  in  God,  and  to  teach  others 
to  trust  in  him,  that  I  want  this  confidence  myself. 
Should  such  a  man  as  I  flee  ?  Should  I  tell  him  that  I 
am  afraid  to  take  a  step  without  his  band  of  soldiers, 
while  I  am  continually  pointing  out  the  power  and 
providence  of  God  over  his  people  ? — No !  The  hon- 
our of  the  cause,  the  glory  of  God,  the  truths  which  I 
have  professed  and  preached,  make  me  ashamed  to  ask 
for  the  soldiers.  I  must  have  recourse  lo  prayer  on 
this  particular  occasion." 


52  SERMON  V. 


It  is  a  man's  unquestionable  duty  to  employ  all 
means  of  safety,  and  to  exercise  all  the  prudence  in 
his  power :  but  under  the  peculiar  circumstances  of 
this  case.  Ezra  rather  chooses  to  expose  himself  to 
danger,  than  to  have  the  honour  of  God  and  his  cause 
called  in  question ;  especially  as  he  had  to  do  with 
those  who  did  not  see  things  as  he  did,  nor  believe  in 
God,  nor  trust  in  his  promises. 

I  principally  insist  on  this  part  of  Ezra's  character, 
because  there  have  been  observ  ed,  in  some  persons 
professedly  rehgious,  an  indelicacy. — a  want  of  con- 
cern for  the  glory  of  God  and  the  honour  of  his  Gos- 
pel— unsubdued  tempers — ill  manners — rudeness  :  no 
tenderness  with  regard  to  the  honour  of  religion — no 
anxiety  to  remove  stumbling-blocks  out  of  the  way  of 
those  who  know  not  the  truth — no  consideration  like 
this  of  Ezra,  "  What  will  the  world  think  ?  I  must  con- 
sider this  :  and  if  the  consideration  cost  me  some- 
thing, 1  must  pay  the  cost.  I  must  make  sacritices. 
I  must  not  say,  '  I  will  have  my  way  and  my  will :  I 
care  not  what  others  think  or  say.' "  Stumbling- 
blocks  have  been  thrown  in  the  way  of  the  people  of 
the  world,  by  this  want  of  regard  to  that  nice  honour, 
of  which  holy  Ezra  is  an  example. 

On  the  other  hand,  there  is  sometimes  observ  ed  a 
criminal  timidity.  A  man  dares  not  to  assert  his 
principles.  He  will  give  place.  He  will  appear 
inconsistent ;  though  he  will  not,  in  word,  deny  the 
truth.  Men  of  the  world  will  ask  concerning  such 
a  one,  "  Does  the  man  believe  what  he  professes  ?  If 
he  does,  how  is  it  that  he  bears  with  me  in  this,  and 
goes  with  me  in  that  ?"  Call  not  this  prudence, 
Brethren  I  It  is  unworthy  of  that  name.  But  in  the 
character  of  Ezra,  we  see  that  the  honour  of  his  re- 
ligion wholly  possessed  the  man  :  and  whether  he  lost 
or  suffered,  he  was  determined  that  the  honour  of  God 
and  his  Church  should  not  suffer. 

Brethren  !  •  Let  your  light  so  shine  before  men.  that 


EZRA  AN  EXAMPLE  IN  BUSINESS. 


53 


others,  seeing  your  good  works,  may  glorify  your  Fa- 
ther which  is  in  heaven.'  Let  them  see  your  holy 
jealousy,  your  tender  regard  to  the  truth,  and  your 
love  to  God  and  his  cause. 

V.  I  proceed  to  consider  the  SUCCESS  which  at- 
tends such  a  man. 

What  need  .is  there  to  dwell  on  this  ?  Without  the 
■spirit  of  prophecy,  any  man  might  have  foretold  what 
woujd  be  the  end  of  suCh  a  conflict  as  this.  God  had 
said  long  before,  Them  that  honour  me  I  will  honour. 
We  read  accordingly  in  the  thirty-first  verse,  "  We  de- 
parted from  the  river  of  Ahava,  on  the  twelfth  day  of 
the  first  month,  to  go  unto  Jerusalem  :  and  the  hand 
of  our  God  was  upon  us ;  and  he  delivered  us  from 
the  hand  of  the  enemy,  and  of  such  as  lay  in  wait  by 
the  way." 

You  may,  perhaps,  see  a  man  humbly  looking  to 
his  God,  as  Ezra  did  ;  an  upright  man,  engaged  in  the 
service  of  God  with  holy  resolution  :  and  yet,  for  a 
time,  he  may  be  under  a  very  dark  cloud.  You  see 
not  the  man  as  you  will  see  him,  if  you  wait  patiently.. 
But  mark  the  event.  Whatsoever  thou  dost,  look  to 
the  end,  says  the  Wise  Man,  and  thou  shall  not  do 
amiss :  therefore,  mark  the  perfect  man,  and  behold 
ike  upright ;  for  the  end  of  that  man  is  peace.  For 
there  are  two  immutable  things,  in  which  it  is  impossi- 
ble for  God  to  lie  ;  and  they  shall  afTord  him  strong 
consolation  while  under  the  cloud.  Has  he  fed  for 
refuge  to  lay  hold  on  the  hope  set  before  him  ? — Has 
he  joined  himself  to  the  Lord^  in- an  everlasting  cove- 
nant, by  faith  in  Christ  Jesus  ? — Has  he  taken  God 
at  his  word  I  Has  he  put  his  hand  into  the  hand  o) 
Omnipotence  ? — and  does  he  thus  wait  the  event  { 
Then  he  shall  find  every  word  that  God  has  spokeil 
at  the  beginning  of  the  xxxviith  Psalm  to  be  literally 
true  :  "  Fret  not  thyself  because  of  evil  doers,  neither 
be  thou  envious  at  the  workers  of  iniquity:  for  thev 
shall  soon  bo  cut  down  as  the  grass,  and  wither  as  the 

vor.  n.  0 


SERMON  V. 


green  herb.  Trust  in  the  Lord  and  do  good  :  so  shall 
thou  dwell  in  the  land  ;  and  verily  thou  shalt  be  fed. 
Commit  thy  way  unto  the  Lord,  and  he  shall  bring  it 
to  pass."  "  Trust  in  the  Lord  with  all  thy  heart,"  saj  s 
Solomon,  "  and  lean  not  to  thine  own  understanding  - 
in  all  thy  ways  acknowledge  him,  and  he  shall  direct 
thy  paths." 

We  have  now  held  up  Ezra  for  your  example,  in 

his    HUMILIATION,    FAITH,   PRAYER,   HOLY  JEALOUSY. 

and  SUCCESS. 

Are  you  acting  on  the  stage  of  life,  or  are  you  ex- 
pecting to  do  it  shortly?  I  pray  God  that  you  may 
be  enabled  to  remember,  and  lay  to  heart  this  exam- 
ple. Consider,  that,  in  going  forward,  and  endea- 
vouring to  stand  for  God  in  your  place  and  affairs, 
many  enemies  will  labour  to  remove  you.  Take, 
therefore,  this  one  hint — make  one  sure  friend: 
for,  "  If  God  be  for  us,  who  can  be  against  us  ?" 

Take  the  bright  example  which  1  have  been  preach- 
ing from  as  your  pattern.  If  we  look  up  of  a  night 
to  the  skies,  we  sometimes  see  the  moon  apparently 
struggling  through  a  dark  cloud ;  now  emerging — -thcri 
plunged  into  another ;  getting  through  that — and  again 
involved.  There  we  see  a  picture  of  this  man,  and 
of  many  others  mentioned  in  Scripture.  These  men 
are  so  many  waymarks,  directing  and  encouraging 
you.  "  Go  thy  way  forth  then,  by  the  footsteps  of 
the  flock."  Pray  for  grace  and  strength,  that  you 
may  thus  press  forward,  leaving  events  to  God. 

A^d,  as  these  men  are  way-marks,  adapted  to  con- 
duct the  faithful  pilgrim  on  his  journey,  let  it  be  re- 
membered, that  others  are  exposed  by  the  way-side 
as  examples  of  just  indignation : — Ahithophel,  Ha- 
inan, and  Judas,  famous  in  their  day  for  their  profes- 
sion and  consequence.  Yea,  of  every  wicked  man  it 
is  recorded,  that  he  "  shall  be  turned  into  hell,  and  all 
the  people  that  forget  God."  All  that  forget  him  ! 
Say  to  any  wicked  man  whatever,  "  Arc  you  a  wicked 


55 


man  ?"  "  No !"  will  be  the  almost  universal  reply : 
"  Nobody  thinks  me  such.    I  think  not  myself  such !" 

But  do  you  live  without  God  ?  without  worship- 
ping him  ?  without  any  concern  for  his  glory,  or  aba- 
sing yourselves  before  him  as  Ezra  did  ?  Are  you 
without  faith  in  his  declarations  ?  Do  you  thus  for- 
get God  ?"  Then  you  are  the  people  of  whom  he 
speaks,  when  he  says,  "  The  wicked  shall  be  turned 
into  hell,-  and  all  the  people  that  forget  God."  Look 
up.  to  him  then  this  hour — endeavour  to  seek  his- 
face,  and  cry,  "  Turn  thou  me,  O  good  Lord,  and  so 
shall  I  be  turned,"  before  thou  deliverest  me  up  to 
those  executioners  from  whom  there  is  no  redemp- 
tion. "When  once  the  door  is  shut,  and  the  Master 
of  the  house  is  risen  up,  they  without  will  begin  to 
cry.  Lord,  Lord,  have  we  not  eaten  and  drunk  in  thy 
presence,  and  hast  thou  not  taught  in  our  streets  ?" 
So  much  the  more  awful !  So  much  the  greater  your 
condemnation !  Depart^.  I  never  knew  you.  Beg  of 
God,  then,  that  he  would  give  you  "  the  light  of  the 
knowledge  "of  his  glory  in  the  face  of  Jesus  Christ," 
and  enable  you  "  to  flee  for  refuge  to  the  hope  set  be- 
fore vou." 


SERMON  VI. 


THE  END  OF  THE  UPRIGHT  MAN- 

Freachcd  on  Occasion  of  Ike  Death  of  the  Rev.  Nathakiel  Gil- 
bert; Lale  Vicar  of  Bledlow,  Bucks;  and  some  years  Assistant 
to  Mr.  Cecil. 

Psalm  xxxvii,  37. 

Mark  the  perfect  Man,  and  behold  the  upright :  for  the  end  of  that 
Man  is  Peace. 

I  CANNOT  notice  the  death  of  every  one  of  my  con- 
gregation, though  many  have  departed  in  peace,  since 
i  had  the  honour  and  the  happiness  of  ministering 
here :  but,  when  a  servant  of  God  is  tslcen  away, 
who,  for  several  years  faithfully  ministered,  and  shone 
as  a  light  in  this  place — a  burning  and  a  shining  light 
— it  would  be  strange  if  I  did  not  notice  his  death. 
And  I  consider  the  death  of  the  Rev.  Nathaniel 
Gilbert,  who  departed  in  the  course  of  this  last 
week,  as  a  striking  illustration  of  the  text  which  I 
have  read. 

Let  us,  from  these  words,  consider  the  character, 
and  the  end,  of  the  righteous. 

I.  Let  us  consider  his  CHARACTER. 

He  is  here  termed  the  perfect  and  the  upright. 

The  mode  of  speaking  is  that  which  is  so  peculiar 
•to  the  Scriptures — of  naming  the  same  thing  twice, 
in  different  words,  though  not  with  distinct  ideas :  the 
perfect  man  is  upright,  and  the  upright  man  is  per- 
fect. Consider,  therefore,  zxidi  mark  the  pei-fecf,  or- 
upright  man. 


THE  EiND  OF  THE  UPRIGHT  MAN. 


57 


We  may  discover  in  the  Scriptures  three  distinc! 
ideas  of  the  worA  perfect^  when  appHed  to  man. 

1.  The  first  is  what  may  be  called  the  lowest  stage 
of  perfection:  the  sound  and  sincere  man. 

This  it  is  which  denotes  a  man  to  be  entire,  in  con- 
tradistinction to  a  hollow  character — a  hypocrite. 

We  have  an  illustration  of  this  sense  of  the  word 
in  the  young  man  who  came  to  Christ.  His  history 
is  recorded  in  the  xixth  chapter  of  St.  Matthew's 
Gospel.  He  came  to  Christ,  and  said,  'Good  Mas- 
ter, what  good  thing  shall  I  do,  that  I  may  have  eter- 
nal life  ?'  Our  Lord,  after  repeating  to  him  the 
second  table  of  the  law,  said  unto  him,  If  thou  wilt  be 
PERFECT — that  is,  if  thou  wilt  be  a  sound  real  charac- 
ter ;  not  an  empty  talking  professor,  in  whose  heart 
religion  has  no  place — if  thou  wilt  be  a  perfect  cha- 
.racter^ — 'go  and  sell  that  thou  hast,  and  give  to  the 
poor,  and  thou  shalt  have  treasure  in  heaven.'  But; 
when  the  young  man  heard  the  terms,  he  went  away 
sorroicful :  as  though  he  had  said,  "  If  I  must  be  sound 
and  entire;  and  if,  among  other  things,  in  order  to  be 
so,  1  must  part  with  my  grand  idol,  I  must  go  away 
sorrowful." 

Thus  God  said  to  Abraham,  Walk  before  me,  and 
be  thou  PERFECT  :  be  entire  :  be  a  real  character  :  one 
that  fears  God, 

With  respect  to  Asa,  it  is  said,  '  The  high  places 
were  not  removed  :  nevertheless,  his  heart  was  per- 
fect with  the  Lord.'  He  did  not  do  all  that  he  ought 
to  have  done  :  he  discovered  that  imperfection  which 
accompanies  the  best  men:  yet  his  heart  was  sound 
and  entire  :  the  heart  of  Asa  was  perfect. 

Mark,  therefore,  the  sound  and  entire  character. 

2.  There  is  a  further  advancement:  for  some  ac- 
tually ATTAIN  :  and  they  are  called  perfect,  on  that 
account:  in  contradistinction  to  those  who  have  jus! 
set  out,  though  sound  and  entire. 

Our  Lord  compares  the  Church  to  a  field  of  corn  : 

VOL.  IT.  •  6* 


58 


SERMON  VI. 


in  this  respect,  that  there  is  first,  the  blade  ;  then,  the 
car  -y  after  that,  the  full  corn  in  the  ear.  They  are  all 
living  characters,  which  are  distinguished  by  this  me- 
taphor ;  but  not  equal  in  respect  of  growth.  Thus 
St.  Paul  says  of  himself,  in  his  Epistle  to  the  Philip- 
pians,  '  Not  as  though  I  had  already  attained,  either 
tvere  already  perfect :  but  I  follow  after :'  I  am  pur- 
suing the  point  to  which  God  purposes  to  bring  me  : 
'  I  press  toward  the  mark  for  the  prize  of  the  high 
calling  of  God  in  Christ  Jesus.  Let  us,  therefore,' 
he  adds,  "as  many  as  be  perfect,  be  thus  minded :  and 
if,  in  any  thing,  ye  be  otherwise  minded,  God  shall  re- 
veal even  this  unto  you.'  So  that  there  is  an  advan- 
ced stage :  we  are  not  only  to  be  babes  in  Christ,  but 
young  men:  not  on\y  young  men,h\xtfa{hers.-  There 
is  the  ripe  corn — full  ripe — those,  who  are  perfect 
and  mature  Christians,  in  contradistinction  to  those 
who  have  just  set  out. 

3.  There  is  a  third  stage  of  advancement  spoken  of  ■ 
in  Scripture:  and  that  is  consummate. 

It  is  this  to  which  the  Apostle  alludes,  when  he 
speaks  of  the  spirits  of  just  men  made  perfect  :  sin- 
less— without  flaw,  or  blemish — without  fault  before 
God. 

Our  departed  brother  steadily  answered  the  first 
and  second  of  these  gradations.  He  was  not  only  a 
sound,  sincere,  and  real  character :  l)ut  he  was  a  ripe 
Christian  :  he  was,  in  both  respects,  a  perfect  man. 
And  now  he  is  advanced  to  a  state,  where  he  will  be 
made  perfect  in  the  higher  sense — consummate. 

His  integrity  seemed  almost  proverbial.  When 
the  Sierra  Leone  Company  required  a  testimonial  of 
bis  conduct  as  a  minister  in  this  place,  I  could  not 
avoid  writing  in  such  terms  as  these  : — "  If  the  philo- 
sopher, who  lighted  a  candle  at  noon-day  to  find  an 
fconest  man,  were  to  appear  again  on  earth — know 
the  character  of  Gilbert — and  ever  discover  therein 
any  thing  mean,  improper,  or  false,  instead  of  light- 


THE  END  OF  THE  UPRIGHT  MAN. 


59 


ing  his  candle  again  in  further  search  of  his  honest 
man,  he  would  throw  it  away  in  utter  despair."  He 
was  an  eminent  instance  of  a  pure  and  simple-hearted, 
yet  wise  and  discerning  Christian.  He  shone  among 
us  as  a  light  in  the  world.  Mark  therefore  his  end  : 
which  leads  us  to  consider, 

II.  The  END  of  the  righteous  man. 

The  prophet  Isaiah,  speaking  of  the  righteous  man, 
says,  '  The  righteous  perisheth,  and  no  man  layeth  it 
to  heart :  and  merciful  men  are  taken  away,  none 
considering  that  the  righteous  are  taken  away  from 
the  evil  to  come.  He  shall  enter  into  peace :  they 
shall  rest  in  their  beds,  each  one  walketh  in  his  up- 
rightness.' We  have  before  us  an  illustration  ot 
this  truth.  The  end  of  the  upright  man,  whatever 
may  have  been  his  troubles  and  imperfections  in 
life,  yet,  sound  and  sincere  in  religion,  his  end  shall 
be  peace :  there  is  prosperity:  there  is  rest:  there  is 
happiness! 

Far  different  his  end  from  that  of  those  of  whom 
the  Psalmist  speaks  in  the  verses  before  the  text:  T 
have  seen  the  wicked,'  says  he,  'in  great  power,  and 
spreading  himself  like  a  green  bay-tree.  Yet  he 
passed  away ;  and  lo,  he  was  notl  yea,  I  sought  him  ; 
but  he  could  not  be  found.'  He  shone  as  a  meteor : 
he  blazed  like  a  comet  in  his  day :  but  still  he  passed 
/may!  he  was  gone  like  a  dream  or  a  vapour:  he 
seemed  to  be  something,  but  he  was  nothing:  he 
passed  by,  and  1  could  hear  no  more  of  him. 

Such  a  man  was  Balaam.  He  shone  in  his  day. 
He  had  considerable  gifts :  but,  says  the  Apostle,  'he 
loved  the  wages  of  unrighteousness  :'  he  was  a  wicked 
man. 

Such  are  the  men,  who  have  looked  to  be  some- 
thing, with  great  splendour  and  consequence :  but, 
put  it  to  their  consciences  when  they  come  to  die,  as 
the  poet  expresses  it,  that,  if  they  think  of  heavenly 


60 


SERMON  \  I. 


grace,  they  should  lift  up  their  hand  and  make  signal 
of  hope — they  die  and  leave  no  sign  ! 

Such  also  are  they,  whom  our  Lord  describes  a- 
coming  to  him,  in  the  Last  Day,  and  saying,  Ha-ot 
7ce  not  prophesied  in  thy  name?  and  in  thy  name  cast 
out  devils,  and  done  many  wonderful  works  :  the  peo- 
ple lookod  upon  us  as  if  we  were  some  great  ones ; 
and  marked  our  eminence  in  the  world."  But,  say? 
Christ.  /  never  knew  you.    Depart  from  me  ! 

The  end  of  all  such  men  shall  not  be  peace :  bul 
the  end  of  a  righteous,  sound,  sincere  character  shall 
be  peace. 

1.  They  have  REAL  peace  with  god. 

'  Therefore  being  justitied  bv  faith,  we  have  peace 
with  God.  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ :  by  whom 
also  we  have  acce'^s  by  faith  into  this  grace  wherein 
we  stand,  and  rejoice  in  hope  of  the  glory  of  God.  ] 
and  not  only  so,  but  we  glory  in  tribulations  also: 
knowing  that  tribulation  worketh  patience;  and  pa- 
tience, experience  ;  and  experience,  hope  ;  and  hope 
maketh  not  ashamed,  because  the  love  of  God  is  shed 
abroad  in  our  hearts  by  the  Holy  Ghost.'  Such  peace 
had  the  man  of  whom  I  am  speaking, 

2.  They  have  peace  with  men. 

For  true  religion  produces  a  disposition  of  love 
and  peace  even  toward  enemies,  not  to  be  conceived 
by  him  who  is  not  under  its  influence.  A  true  Chris- 
tian would  do  good  to  his  enemies :  he  would  say. 
with  Christ.  "  Father,  forgive  them!  They  know  me 
not :  therefore  they  act  as  thev  do."  He  would  say.  " 
with  St.  Stephen.  "  They  are  destroying  my  bod\ 
with  stones,  and  expressing  their  enmity  in  every  pos- 
sible way :  but  they  know  me  not :  therefore,  Lord, 
lay  not  thi^  sin  to  their  charge.^^ 

3.  Such  a  man  has  peace  with  his  own  cox- 
science. 

'i  It  is  a  high  attainment,  to  be  able  to  look  round, 
and  at  length  to  find  a  resting  place ;  while  it  is  the 


THE  END  OF  THE  UPRIGHT  MAN.  61 


misery  of  men  in  general,  that  they  think  not  at  all 
on  their  condition.  Ask  your  consciences:  say,  "I 
must  soon  be  carried  away !  the  very  boards  are  per- 
haps prepared  that  are  to  make  my  coffin  ;  the  stufi' 
woven,  that  is  to  make  my  shroud !  and  have  I  never 
asked  where  I  shall  set  my  foot  in  eternity !  Does 
conscience  declare  that  I  have  not  accepted  the  Gos- 
pel ? — Not  fled  for  refuge  to  the  hope  set  before  me? 
On  what  ground  can  I  stand  ?" — The  end  of  such  a 
man  as  Gilbert  is  peace.  After  all  his  difficulties  and 
troubles;  after  all  the  imperfections  and  sin  that  he 
has  lamented  ;  yet  he  goes  down  to  the  grave  in 
peace.  In  this  way  he  will  take  hold  of  the  hand  of 
a  gracious  and  covenant  God,  and  seem  to  say,  "  Re- 
member thy  word  to  thy  servant,  on  which  thou  hast 
caused  me  to  hope.  Christ  has  entered  this  grave  be- 
fore me  :  the  spirits  of  just  men  made  perfect  have  all 
had  this  debt  to  pay.  Though  I  walk  through  iht 
valley  of  the  shadow  of  death.  I  thank  God  I  have 
peace.  I  will  fear  no  evil,  for  thou  art  loith  me.  He 
has  bound  himself  by  his  promise.  He  had  no  reason 
but  his  gracious  will,  for  giving  me  such  an  assurance 
as  he  has  given  :  there  was  no  ground  in  me  whatever 
on  which  to  raise  such  an  expectation  :  but  he  has 
raised  it:  and,  since  he  has,  I  will  rejoice  in  hope.  I 
will  go  down  beseeching  him  to  remember  his  word 
to  his  servant."  The  text  declares  that  this  shall  be 
the  end  of  the  sound  and  sincere  man. 

You,  who  seldom  or  never  think  of  these  things, 
but  will  go  away  from  this  House  of  God.  and  enter 
into  your  foolish  and  vain  schemes  and  conversations, 
— planning  no  higher  than  the  ground  on  which  you 
stand,  and  the  circumstances  in  which  you  now  move 
— Do  you  not  know  that  the  hour  cometh,  and  that 
shortly,  in  which  you  would  give  ten  thousand  worlds, 
if  you  could  but  gain  this  peace  of  which  I  speak,  and 
which  accompanies  the  end  of  the  perfect  man  ? 

I  call  on  you,  in  the  name  of  Godi    I  would  say, 


62 


SERMON  VI. 


"  O  Lord,  open  these  blind  eyes :  unstop  these  deaf 
ears :  breathe  on  these  dry  bones,  that  they  may  hve. 
Let  these  men,  at  length,  mark  the  perfect  man ;  and 
see  that  the  end  of  that  man  is  a  solid,  well-grounded 
peace  :  and  that  there  is  a  rest  remaining  for  the  peo- 
ple of  God." 

1  would  call  your  attention  to  one  thing  more  in  the 
text.  A  father  takes  his  child  to  a  place,  in  which 
there  are  many  curiosities  to  be  seen;  and  sees  him 
pleased  with  a  great  variety  of  things  which  attract 
his  notice:  but.  bent  on  the  instruction  of  his  child, 
he  will  say,  Mark  this  !  Take  notice  of  it !  Mind  not 
that  or  the  other.  They  are  mere  trifles  to  please 
chiMren.  But  take  notice  of  this  thing :  it  will  afford 
you  the  instruction  which  I  want  you  to  to  retain,  and 
which  will  be  found  of  great  use  to  you  on  a  future 
occasion.  It  will  be  of  great  use  to  you  that  you  saw 
such  and  such  a  thing,  and  you  may  apply  it  to  impor- 
tant purposes." 

God,  like  this  father,  seems  to  say,  in  the  text, 

Mark  !  Mark!  Mark  the  perfect  man!  Be- 
hold the  upright!  There  is  something  worth  seeing: 
you  may  learn  much  from  this :  for  the  end  of  that 
man  is  peace,''''  It  is  as  if  he  had  said,  "  In  the  midst 
of  a  vain  and  thoughtless  world,  and  a  crooked  and 
perverse  generation,  there  is  something  to  be  seen  that 
is  worth  looking  at.  Behold  the  excellent  of  the 
earthy  in  whom  is  all  my  delight.  This  is  my  sign : 
mark  it  well !" 

Go  not  away,  therefore,  brethren,  with  the  rest  of 
the  world,  and  merelv  talk  of  such  men  as  Pitt,  and 
Fox,  and  Nelson  :  butvlix  your  thoughts  on  that  which 
God  points  out  as  most  worthy  your  attention. 

Look  at  such  men  as  Enoch :  see  how  they  walked 
with  God :  observe  the  grasp  of  their  minds  ;  not 
satisfied  with  any  thing  on  earth. 

Look  at  such  men  as  Simeon  :  '  Lord,  now  lettest 
thou  thy  servant  depart  in  peace :'  I  have  seen  enough  : 


THE  END  OF  THE  UPRIGHT  MAN. 


63 


1  want  not  to  see  any  more  :  '  mine  eyes  have  seen 
thy  salvation.'  As  if  God  had  said,  "  Mark  the  end 
of  such  a  man  as  this  :  he  was  ray  servant :  what  did 
he  teach  you  while  living  ?  On  what  did  he  bid  you 
rest?  On  what  did  he  rest  himself?  and  see  the  end 
of  it!" 

When  Israel  was  overrun  with  idolatry,  and  an  an- 
swer by  fire  from  heaven  was  to  be  the  test  of  the 
True  God,  the  priests  of  Baal  cut  themselves  with 
knives  till  the  blood  gushed  out ;  but  no  fire  came : 
but,  when  the  prophet  Elijah  lifted  up  his  voice  and 
begged  a  sign,  God  gave  that  sign  :  the  fire  came  from 
iieaven,  consumed  the  sacrifice,  and  licked  up  the 
water  that  was  in  the  trench.  It  is  as  if  he  had  said, 
■■  Mark  !  see  the  God  that  answers  by  fire  !" 

So  our  Lord  says  to  his  ministers  and  people  in  the 
world,  "  Ye  are  the  salt  of  the  earth  :  ye  are  set  as 
lights  on  a  hill.  Go  forth,  and  declare  my  truth,  and 
I  will  confirm  that  truth  by  the  facts  that  follow."  As 
he  said  to  the  messengers  of  John,  when  they  inquired 
whether  he  was  the  Messiah  that  should  come,  '  Go,' 
■;aid  he,  '  tell  John  those  things  which  ye  have  seen  and 
heard.'  ' 

Bring  this  to  the  present  case.  I  appeal  to  your 
consciences.  Ye  are  my  witnesses  herein.  The 
man,,  who  is  now  departed  to  a  better  world,  in  the 
place  in  which  I  now  stand  before  you  declared  to  you 
that  there  was  '  no  name  given  under  heaven  Avhereby 
men  could  be  saved,  but  the  name  of  Jesus.'  He  de- 
clared to  you  the  depravity  and  misery  of  fallen  man  : 
he  gloried  in  the  cross  of  Christ,  and  preached  it  to 
you :  he  showed  you  that  '  a  man  could  receive  no- 
ihing,  except  it  were  given  him  from  heaven  :'  he  set 
forth  the  influence  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  enlightening, 
enlivening,  sanctifying  the  heart :  he  hved  a  witness  to 
the  efficacy  of  these  truths,  and  he  died  in  the  same 
faith.  God  confirmed  it  with  the  sign  of  keeping  him 
upright,  watching  his  steps,  and  supporting  his  head  in 


64 


SERMON  VI. 


his  dying  hour.  This  is  God's  setting  his  seal  to  these 
things. 

When  the  learned,  and  the  philosopher,  and  the 
elevated  genius,  have  taken  up  their  schemes,  and  set 
forth  their  ditTerent  ways  of  helping  man,  God  has 
written  confusion  on  them  all.  As  if  he  had  said, 
"  This  is  not  my  way,  not  my  revelation."  '  God 
made  man  upright,  but  he  sought  out  many  inven- 
tions and  these  are  proofs  of  it.  But,  when  a  man 
goes  forth  in  the  simplicity  of  the  Gospel,  and  makes 
mention  of  the  truth  only,  God  applies  it ;  sets  his 
seal  to  it  in  the  man,  and  more  or  less  in  the  people 
who  hear  him. 

This  is,  besides,  a  warning  voice.  '  Mark  the  per- 
fect man,  and  behold  the  upright !  Remember  them,' 
says  the  Apostle,  '  who  have  had  the  rule  over  you  ; 
considering  the  end  of  their  conversation.'  Remem- 
ber the  favour  granted  to  the  people  among  whom  this 
servant  of  God  ministered.  Mark  how  the  light 
shone  for  a  time  ;  but  mark,  also,  how  short  that  time  ! 
God  will  call  his  witness  home,  yet  while  he  bears  his 
testimony.  '  Hear  ye  him !  Mark  the  perfect  man. 
and  behold  the  upright !' 

It  was,  again,  as  if  God  should  say,  "  Mark  this  by 
way  of  encouragement.  His  end  is  peace.  Belshaz- 
zar  may  profane,  by  his  victories,  the  temple  of  the 
Lord,  and  the  vessels  of  that  temple  ;  and  may  call 
for  them  to  make  entertainment  for  his  thousand  lords  ! 
but! — his  end  is  not  peace:  he  trembles  at  the  hand- 
writing on  the  wall !  Herod  may  shine  in  gorgeous 
robes,  and  so  speak  that  people  may  say,  'It  is  the 
voice  of  a  god  and  not  of  a  man  :'  but ! — worms 
shall  be  sent  to  devour  Herod,  and  spoil  his  pomp  and 
grandeur :  there  is  no  peace  in  his  end.  Some  die  in 
absolute  horror,  because  their  consciences  are  actually 
awake  :  none  but  a  true  Christian  can  die  in  a  well- 
grounded  hope  of  life  eternal." 

Thus  died  Gilbert :  and.  though  he  is  not  recorded 


THE  END  OF  THE  UPRIGHT  MAN. 


65 


in  the  eleventh  of  the  Hebrews,  yet  it  may  truly  be 
said,  and  it  must  be  said  for  the  encouragement  of  all 
who  are  walking  in  the  same  way,  '  These  all  died  in 
faith ;  not  having  received  the  promises,  but  having 
seen  them  afar  off,  and  were  persuaded  of  them,  and 
embraced  them,  and  confessed  that  they  were  strangers 
and  pilgrims  on  the  earth.' 

Brethren  !  it  is  the  utmost  wish  of  my  heart,  and  my 
most  earnest  prayer,  that  you  may  be  found  in  this 
number.  It  is  of  no  manner  of  importance  what  a 
blind  and  wretched  world  shall  say  or  think  of  you  : 
but — may  it  be  truly  said  of  you  when  you  are  depar- 
ted, Mark  the  perfect  man,  and  behold  the  upright : 
for  the  end  of  that  man  was  peace  I' 


VOL.  n. 


SERMON  VII, 


HOPE  A  SUPPORT  IX  TROUBLi; 
Psalm  xliii.  5. 

Why  art  thoa  ca=t  down,  O  my  soul  r  and  why  art  thou  tliiquklef 
within  mer  hope  in  God  :  for  1  shall  yet  praise  him.  who  is  the 
health  of  my  countenance,  and  my  God. 

A  Christian  has  been  justly  compared  to  an  exotic, 
a  plant  which  flourishes  in  its  own  climate  :  but  which, 
when  brought  into  one  unfriendly  to  its  nature,  is  alivf 
indeed,  but  sickly.  There  is  something  paradoxical, 
an  apparent  contradiction,  in  the  Christian's  charac- 
ter: he  is  sorrou-ful  yet  alzcays  rejoicing! 

The  book  of  Psalms  is  the  language  of  experience. 
You.  who  are  true  serv  ants  of  God.  will  find  the  lan- 
guage of  your  hearts,  at  one  time  or  other,  such  as 
you  find  David  to  have  uttered  throughout  tliis  book. 
•Judge  me.  O  God.  says  the  Psalmist  :  and  plead  my 
cause  against  an  ungodly  nation  :  Oh.  deliver  me  from 
the  deceitful  and  unjust  man.  For  thou  art  the  God 
of  mv  strength  :  why  dost  thou  cast  me  off :  whv  go  I 
mourning,  because  of  the  oppression  of  ihe  enemy . 
Oh.  send  me  out  thy  light  and  thy  truth :  let  them 
lead  me  :  let  them  bring  me  unto  thy  holy  hill,  and  to 
thy  tabernacles.  Then  will  I  go  unto  the  Altar  oi 
God.  unto  God  my  exceeding  joy  :  yea,  upon  the  harp 
will  I  praise  thee.  O  God.  my  God.  Why  art  thou 
cast  down.  O  my  soul  ?  and  why  art  thou  disquieted 
within  me  ? — hope  in  God  :  for  I  shall  yet  praise  him. 
who  is  the  health  of  my  countenance,  and  my  God.' 
He  concluded  the  former  Psalm  in  the  same  words : 
here  he  repeats  th^m,  and  again  cxpostvilates  with 
himself. 


HOPE  A  SUPPORT  IN  TllOUBLE. 


67 


From  these  words  we  may  make  these  inferences. 

1.  That  THE  BEST  OF  MEN,  AND  MEN  OF  THE 
DEEPEST  EXPERIENCE,  MAY,  AT  TIMES,  SUFFER  GREAT 
DEPRESSION. 

2.  That  IT  IS  THE  DUTY  OF  GOOD  MEN  TO  RE- 
SIST  SUCH  DESPONDENCY. 

3.  That  ALL  MEN  WHO  ARE  TAUGHT  OF  GOD,  ARF. 
TAUGHT  THAT  THERE  IS  BUT  ONE  EFFECTUAL  RE- 
SOURCE  IN   ALL   CASES   OF  DEPRESSION. 

I.  There  are  times  when  THE  BEST  OF  MEN 
SUFFER  DEPRESSION. 

Let  it  be  remembered,  That  the  best  of  men  are 
3  et  in  the  body.  They  cannot  but  feel.  They  see 
but  in  part.  They  are  oppressed  and  tempted.  EH- 
jah,  the  champion,  could  say,  under  depression,  '  O 
Lord,  take  away  my  life.'  David,  though  a  liero, 
yet  cries  out,  'I  said  all  men  are  liars !  I  shall  one  day 
perish  :'  and,  here,  'Why  go  I  mourning  because  of 
the  enemy  ?' 

Sometimes  the  depression  does  not  arise  so  much 
from  outward  opposition,  wearing  down  the  spirit;  as 
that  the  man  feels  an  evil  heart  of  unbelief,  and  Satan 
working  on  that  heart,  stirring  up  all  its  corruptions, 
and  filling  it  with  blasphemous  thoughts.  I  never 
knew  a  Christian,  who  did  not  complain  of  the  vain 
and  wicked  imaginations  which  were  continually  pass- 
ing through  his  heart ! 

Now,  if  it  please  God  to  leave  this  man  destitute  of 
(hose  consolations,  which  alone  can  uphold  the  spirit 
in  such  troubles ;  though  the  man  find  coldness,  deso- 
lation, and  vanity  of  heart,  yet  he  cannot  be  beguiled 
by  the  resources  of  the  world.  It  is  in  vain  to  say 
to  such  a  man,  "  Go  to  the  theatre :  Go  to  the 
card-table he  is  no  longer  a  child :  he  cannot  be 
pleased  with  such  toys.  If  he  enjoy  not  better  com- 
forts and  consolations  ;  if  he  cannot  mount  on  the 
wings  of  faith,  and  love,  and  hope  ;  he  cannot  but  be 
dejected  and  sorrowful. 


68 


SERMON  VII. 


There  are,  perhaps,  no  earthly  comforts  of  which  a 
man  so  satisfactorily  partakes,  as  of  those  in  his  own 
house  and  family  :  and  yet  a  man  who  has  the  highest 
relish  for  such  enjoyments  is  sometimes  found  eating 
his  bread  in  the  bitterness  of  his  soul :  the  sword  is 
within.  It  is  with  him  as  with  David  :  his  own  son  is 
liis  enemy  :  or  as  it  was  with  Job  ;  the  wife  of  his 
bosom  becomes  his  tempter  and  reproacher. 

A  man's  friends,  like  Job's,  will  sometimes  come 
about  him,  and  tax  him  with  hypocrisy,  because  he  is 
under  depression.  No  wonder  this  wears  away  the 
spirits. 

At  other  times,  where  there  are  none  of  these 
causes  of  dejection,  a  bodily  disease  cleaveth  to  him,  a 
fhorn  in  the  jlesh  :  that  when  he  would  arise  and  com- 
fort himself,  he  is  so  bowed  down  that  he  cannot. 

Sometimes  he  is  deprived  of  ordinances,  which 
were  his  support,  and  as  bread  to  his  soul  :  and  he 
cries  out,  with  David,  '  My  soul  thirsteth  for  God,  for 
the  living  God  :  when  shall  I  come  and  appear  before 
God  ?  As  the  hart  panteth  after  the  water-brooks,  so 
panteth  my  soul  after  thee,  O  God.' 

Whatever  be  the  occasion  of  depression,  the  heart 
knoweth  its  own  bitterness.  Every  man  best  knows 
what  pains  harass  him.  The  most  elevated  piety 
does  not  raise  a  man  abeve  the  common  ills  of  life. 
When  people  talk  of  an  abstractedness  of  mind  above 
pain  and  care,  they  talk  of  something  more  than  hu- 
manity. Where  God  provides  a  medium  for  our  sor- 
rows, he  means  that  the  man  should  feel  those  sorrows. 

Let  us  remember  then,  that,  in  this  present  state, 
this  dispensation  under  which  we  live,  we  have  reason 
to  call  on  our  souls,  in  seasons  of  depression — 'Whj 
art  thou  cast  down.  O  my  soul  ?' 

And  this  leads  us  to  consider, 

II.  That  IT  IS  THE  DUTY  OF  GOOD  MEN 
rO  RESIST  SUCH  DESPONDENCY. 

And  there  are  sufficient  reasons  why  a  good  man 
should  thus  resist  despair. 


HOPE  A  SUrPORT  IN  TROUBLE. 


69 


1.  Because,  if  his  despondency  be  not  arrested 
in  its  progress,  he  is  in  danger  of  dishonouring 

GOD. 

It  will  always  be  an  argument  of  the  greatest  effi- 
cacy with  a  Christian,  that,  whatever  be  his  difficulty, 
it  comes  from  God.  Affliction  springs  not  from  the 
ground  :  it  is  dehvered  out  in  weight  and  measure. 
There  is  no  evil  in  a  city,  which  the  Lord  hath  not 
done;  and  the  good  man  knows  that  'God  is  fiiithful, 
who  will  not  suffer  him  to  be  tempted  above  that  he 
is  able.' 

But  if  a  man  yield  to  despondency  and  melancholy, 
it  is  the  eflfect  of  unbelief:  it  is  calling  in  question 
the  truth  of  God:  it  is  forgetting  the  promise  of 
Christ,  and  that  covenant  of  God,  which  is  ordered  in 
fill  things  and  sure  :  it  is  forgetting  that  this  world  is 
a  school ;  and  that  a  school  will  have  its  tasks  and  its 
discipline :  and  that  God  brings  us  under  these  les- 
-;ons  for  some  wise  end,  and  calls  on  us  for  credit  and 
assurance.  The  prophet,  therefore,  wisely  says, 
■  Although  the  fig-tree  shall  not  blossom,  and  there 
-hall  be  no  herd  in  the  stall,  yet  will  I  rejoice  in  the 
Lord,  I  will  joy  in  the  God  of  my  salvation.' 

2.  But  it  is  the  duty  of  a  Christian  to  resist  such 
despondency,  because  it  has  a  tendency  to  weak- 
en EXERTION. 

Religion  is  exertion.  We  fight  7iot  only  withjlesh 
and  blood,  hut  with  principalities  and  powers.  So  that 
a  Christian  is  a  soldier;  but,  if  the  soldier  is  seized 
with  a  panic,  he  is  unstrung  in  his  joints,  he  cannot 
stand  up  in  the  conflict,  his  heart  is  dismayed.  The 
achievements  of  an  army  in  hope,  courage,  and  spi- 
rits have  astonished  the  world  :  while  very  large  ar- 
mies have  given  place  to  a  handful  of  men,  when  those 
armies  have  been  out  of  heart.  If  a  Christian  gives 
place  to  a  melancholy  and  forlorn  state  of  mind ;  and 
says,  "  My  hope  is  perished  :  I  shall  one  day  fall :  the 
vol..  II.  7* 


70 


enemy  gains  ground,  and  it  is  in  vain  to  fight  and 
strive :"  no  wonder  that  Satan  takes  the  advantage. 

3.  It  is  the  duty  of  a  Christian  to  resist  despon- 
dency, because  it  is  a  snare  to  his  neighbour. 

AN  INJURY  TO  HIS  FAMILY,  AND  A  SCANDAL  TO 
RELIGION. 

'  Why,'  therefore,  says  David,  '  should  I  go  mourn- 
ing because  of  the  enemy  ?  and  why  should  they  daily 
say  unto  me,  Where  is  thy  God  ?'  Why,  indeed  ?  And 
why  should  we  give  occasion  to  say  it  ?  Why  should 
we  not  always  call  on  our  souls,  when  cast  down,  to 
say, '  Why  art  thou  cast  down,  O  my  soul  ?  Hope  in 
God !'  Therefore  '  rejoice  not  against  me,  O  mint- 
enemy  :  though  I  fall,  I  shall  arise.' 

If  a  Christian  stands  firm  in  all  weathers  and  sea- 
sons, a  spectator  will  ask,  On  what  principle  does 
this  man  act  ?  When  called  to  pass  through  diffi- 
culties, I  have  nothing  to  support  me;  but  this  man 
stands  up  :  he  has  some  secret  spring,  some  consola- 
tion, of  which  I  know  nothing.  There  is  some- 
thing grand  and  supporting  in  religion.  I  will  inquire- 
after  this  man's  principles :  for  his  religion  recom- 
mends itself  to  me  in  giving  him  these  Songs  in  th-^ 
night.'''' 

III.  I  have  to  set  before  you  that  these  songs  in  the 
night,  and  this  resistance  of  a  melancholy  and  de- 
sponding spirit,  proceed  on  this  single  principle,  thai 
God  is  an  1>TALLIBLE  RESOURCE  to  the  godly 
in  all  cases  of  trial— HOPE  IN  GOD. 

This  is  the  only  way  of  treating  such  cases  radically. 
All  other  proposals  made  to  the  wretched  will  do 
them  no  good  in  the  end.  All  other  resources  arc 
but  as  ttie  resource  of  the  drunkard,  who,  when  in 
pain,  has  recourse  to  his  cups,  which  do  but  increase 
his  malady :  he  is  easier  for  the  moment,  but  is  visited 
with  aggravated  pains.  Such  are  carnal  resources ! 
But  the  Christian  has  solid  and  substantial  repose  : — 
Hope  thou  in  God. 


HOPE  A  SUPPORT  IN  TROUBLE. 


71 


An  able  seaman  once  said  to  me,  "  In  fierce  storms, 
we  have  but  one  resource :  we  keep  the  ship  in  a 
certain  position  ;  we  cannot  act  in  any  way  but  this  : 
we  fix  her  head  to  the  wind ;  and,  in  this  way,  we 
weather  the  storm."  This  is  a  picture  of  the  Chris- 
tian :  he  endeavours  to  put  himself  in  a  certain  posi- 
tion :  "  My  hope  and  help  are  in  God :  he  is  faithful : 
"Weeping  may  endure  for  a  night,'  but  'I  will  bear 
the  indignation  of  the  Lord.' "  The  man  who  has 
learnt  this  peace  of  heavenly  navigation,  shall  wea- 
ther the  storms  of  time  and  of  eternity ;  for  he  trusts 
a  faithful  God,  and  he  shall  find  him  faithful.  This 
confidence  has  supported  thousands  in  perishing 
situations,  where  others  would  have  given  up  all  in 
despair. 

When  the  traveller,  Park,  sinking  in  despondency, 
in  the  deserts  of  Africa,  cast  his  eye  on  a  little  plant 
by  his  side,  he  gathered  courage :  "  I  cannot  look 
around,"  said  he,  "without  seeing  the  works  and  the 
providence  of  God  ?"  And  thus  asks  every  Chris- 
tian : — "  Will  God  feed  the  young  ravens  ?  Does  he 
number  the  hairs  of  the  head  ?  Does  he  suffer  a 
sparrow  to  fall  to  the  ground  without  his  notice, 
though  two  are  sold  for  a  farthing  ?  Should  not  1 
then  hope  in  God  ?  '  He,  that  spared  not  his  own 
Son,  but  freely  gave  him  up  for  us  all,  how  shall  he 
not  with  him  freely  give  us  all  things  ?'  If  comfort, 
therefore,  was  the  best  thing  for  me,  he  would  have 
given  me  comfort."  A  Christian,  too,  as  a  wise  man. 
takes  care  that  he  is  building  his  hope  on  that  foun- 
dation which  is  warranted.  He  is  not  ferried  over 
the  waters  by  Vain  Hope,  according  to  Bunyan's 
ingenious  allegory;  but  he  has  a  title  and  right  to 
heaven,  because  his  trust  is  in  Christ  Jesus.  He  is 
warranted,  he  is  commanded  thus  to  believe.  No- 
thing is,  in  this  view,  so  much  to  be  dreaded  as  unbe- 
lief: nothing  should  alarm  us  so  much,  as  that,  when 
God  has  been  at  such  an  infinite  expense  to  raise 


72 


our  hope,  we  should  not  be  found  building  on  his 
foundation. 

Hope  in  God:  that  is,  hope  according  to  his  word  : 
rest  on  that  which  cannot  be  broken,  and  on  that  God 
who  cannot  deny  himself. — a  Covenant  Saviour  who 
has  commended  his  love  to  sinners,  and  called  them 
to  come  weary  and  heavy  laden  to  him  for  rest ;  who 
tells  them  he  can  make  darkness  light,  and  crooked 
things  straight ;  who  can  supply  all  their  need  out  of 
his  fulness,  nor  ever  forsook  the  man  that  trusted  in 
him. 

A  Christian  has  experienced  this  confidence.  He 
can  say — "  Do  not  I  know,  as  David  did,  what  it  is  to 
be  takeyi  out  of  the  miry  clay,  to  be  lifted  out  of  the 
pit.  and  have  my  feet  set  upon  a  rock,  and  my  goings 
established  ?  Do  not  I  know  what  it  is  to  be  brought 
through  dark  and  trying  dispensations,  and  afterward 
to  praise  God  for  deliverance  ?  Do  not  I  know  what 
singular  assistance  I  have  received  ?  Have  I  not  known 
what  it  is  to  be  cast  down  one  day,  and  have  m\ 
mourning  turned  into  dancing  another  ?  1  must  hope, 
therefore,  in  God  from  past  experience  of  his  mercy." 

As  to  particular  cases,  we  cannot  even  glance  at 
the  character  of  Omnipotence,  without  seeing  that  all 
cases  to  him  are  alike  ;  that  there  is  nothing  great,  no- 
thing little,  with  God:  nothing  plain,  nothing  intri- 
cate :  nothing  hard,  nothing  easy  !  As  Asa  said,  '  It  is 
nothing  with  thee  to  help,  whether  with  many,  or  with 
them  that  have  no  power.'  God  has  but  to  speak, 
and  it  shall  be  done:  to  command  only,  and  it  shall 
stand  fast :  but  to  speak  again,  when  it  stands  fast,  and 
it  shall  be  broken  in  pieces.  With  him  are  power 
and  might :  '  none  can  stay  his  hand,  or  say  unto  him. 
What  doest  thou  ?'  Hope,  therefore,  in  God.  because 
he  is  Almighty,  and  he  will  supply  all  thy  wants.  Be 
then  the  case  of  a  Christian  what  it  may.  let  him 
hope  in  God  :  and  let  him  add,  '  for  I  shall  yet  praise 
him,  who  is  the  health  of  mv  countenance,  and  mv 
God.' 


HOPE  A  SUPPORT  IN  TROUBLE. 


73 


I  have  endeavoured  to  point  out  to  you  then  the 
DEEP  DEPRESSIONS,  encountercd  by  the  best  of  men 
— the  DUTY  OF  SUCH  MEN — and  their  only  infal- 
lible RESOURCE,  HOPE  IN  GOD. 

Before  I  dismiss  the  congregation,  I  would  speak  a 
word  to  another  sort  of  persons : — Men  whom  we 
may  term  hopers.  They  also  hope;  but  it  is  their 
misery,  that  their  confidence  is  ill  placed.  They 
hope ;  but  it  is  not  in  God. 

You  ask,  perhaps,  Whom  do  you  mean  ?  To 
whom  do  you  speak  ?" — 1  reply.  Ask  yourselves — 
'•  Do  I  hope  in  God  ?  Do  1  seek  acquaintance  with  him 
in  his  own  way  ?  Do  I  carry  my  troubles  to  him  ? 
Have  I  formed  any  saving  acquaintance  with  him  in 
his  word  ?  Are  not  my  hopes  placed  on  something  else, 
however  mean,  and  base,  and  foolish  ?"  Ask  your- 
selves, if  you  entertain  any  hope  at  all — and  who  is 
the  man  that  is  not  kept  alive  by  hope  ? — ask  on  what 
thy  hope  is  placed. 

The  most  unthinking  man  talks  of  hope  :  the  very 
hypocrite  talks  of  hope  ;  but  does  not  lay  it  to  heart, 
that  it  is  said,  '  The  hope  of  the  hypocrite  shall 
perish.' 

The  most  carnal  man  talks  of  hope : — something 
that  shall  comfort  him  by  and  by,  if  not  now.  Did 
not  Ahab  hope  to  comfort  himself  in  Naboth's  vine- 
yard? Did  not  Solomon  hope  that  in  his  riches  he 
should  find  satisfaction?  Yet,  after  all,  he  found  all 
but  -vanity  and  vexation  of  spirit.  Did  not  Haman 
build  high,  because  he  was  the  favourite  of  the  King? 
did  he  not  think,  "  The  king  is  my  friend  :"  and  that 
he  might  bless  his  soul,  and  tell  his  family  of  his  pros- 
perity ? — and  what  became  of  Haman  ? 

In  the  ancient  sacrifices,  it  was  the  custom  to  crown 
the  victim  with  garlands,  and  lead  it  to  the  altar  with 
music.  Behold  the  picture  of  all  vain  hopers  !  They 
hope  not  in  God :  and  the  decree  is  gone  forths 
•  They  that  turn  away  from  him.  shall  perish.' 


74 


SERMON  VII. 


Before,  then,  you  meet  the  fulfilment  of  this  decree, 
the  decree  of  him  who  has  declared  that  the  wicked 
■''hall  be  turned  into  hell,  instead  of  calling  on  your- 
selves to  hope,  I  pray  you  to  ask,  "Why  am  I  lifted 
up  ?  Let  me  turn  to  God,  and  I  cannot  raise  my  hopes 
too  high  :  I  shall  be  blessed  indeed.  But  my  present 
hope  will  lead  me  down— to  the  chambers  of  death," 
I  pray  that  the  vain  thoughts  of  thy  heart  may  be  for- 
given thee  ;  and  that  thou  mayest  thus  awake  in  time, 
before  thou  sleepest  the  sleep  of  death. 

But  let  us  learn.  Brethren  ! — I  speak  to  my  Fellow- 
Christians — let  us  learn  never  to  cast  away  our  con- 
fidence, which  hath  great  recompeuce  of  rexvard. 
Never  let  Satan  rob  you  of  your  precious  jewel- 
Hope  in  God  *.  for  that  has  been  the  honour  of  the 
true  servants  of  God,  in  all  ages  of  the  world.  B) 
whatever  name  they  may  have  been  called,  their  cha- 
racter is  found  here:  'Seeing,'  then,  that  'we  arc 
compassed  about  with  so  great  a  cloud  of  witnesses, 
let  us  lay  aside  every  weight,  and  the  sin  which  doth 
so  easily  beset  us,  and  let  us  run  with  patience  the 
race  set  before  us,  looking  unto  Jesus,  the  author  and 
finisher  of  our  faith.'  And,  among  other  things  for 
which  we  are  too  look  to  him,  is  this,  that  we  may 
learn  to  run  :  and  how  did  he  run  ?  '  Who,  for  the  joy 
that  was  set  before  him,  endured  the  cross,  despising 
the  shame.  Consider  him,'  therefore,  says  the  Apos- 
tle, '  that  endureth  such  contradiction  of  sinners 
against  himself.' 

1  would,  finally,  leave  a  few  CAUTIONS  on  youi 
minds. 

1.  While  you  are  hoping,  and  not  casting  away 
your  confidence,  you  must  often  hope  through  an 

INEXPLICABLE  PROVIDENCE,  AND  DEPEND  ON  GOD  IN 
THE  ORDER  OF  HIS  DISPENSATIONS. 

He  knows  his  own  purposes,  though  you  know  them 
not.  '  I  turn  to  the  right  hand,'  says  Job,  '  and  sec; 
him  not ;  and  to  the  left,  but  cannot  perceive  him  . 


HOPE  A  SUPPORT  IN  TROUBLE. 


75 


yet  he  knoweth  the  way  that  I  take.'  We  must  not 
wish  the  wheels  of  providence  to  turn  from  their 
course  ;  but  must  hope  in  that  way. 

2.  Exercise  hope  in  the  path  of  duty. 
Turn  not  aside  because  the  way  is  rough.  Trust 

through  the  storm.  '  Trust  in  the  Lord  with  all  thy 
heart,  and  lean  not  to  thine  own  understanding :  In 
all  thy  ways  acknowledge  him,  and  he  shall  direct  thy 
paths.' 

3.  Exercise  your  confidence  with  respect  to 

YOUR   BEST  interests. 

That  is  best  for  the  man  which  is  best  for  his  soul. 
God  does  not  consult  your  ease,  but  your  profit :  a? 
a  wise  schoolmaster  consults  not  the  ease  of  his  scho- 
lars, but  their  advancement.  The  Christian  must 
meet  God  in  this  way :  he  must  have  confidence  in 
him,  as  promoting  his  best  interests,  and  doing  him 
good  in  his  latter  end.  God  hath  '  confirmed  his  coun- 
sel by  an  oath,  that,  by  two  immutable  things,  in  which 
it  was  impossible  for  God  to  lie,  we  might  have  a 
strong  consolation,  who  have  fled  for  refuge  to  lay 
hold  upon  the  hope  set  before  us :  which  hope  we 
have  as  an  anchor  of  the  soul.'  The  waves  may  beat : 
storms  will  come  :  we  must  expect  bad  weather ; 
but — the  anchor ! — the  anchor !  '  which  hope  we  have 
as  an  anchor  of  the  soul.' 

Here  it  is  that  we  must  lie  at  anchor.  Let  God  do 
what  he  please  !  '  He  cannot  deny  himself!  He  abi- 
deth  faithful ;  and  by  two  immutable  things,  in  which 
it  is  impossible  for  him  to  lie,  he  giveth  strong  conso- 
lation to  those  who  flee  to  him.' 


SERMON  VIII. 


THANKSGIVING  ON  THE  VICTORY  OF  TRAFALGAR. 

Psalm  cxviii,  27. 

God  is  the  Lord,  which  hath  showed  us  light :  bind  the  sacrifici 
•with  cords,  even  iinto  the  horns  of  the  altar. 

Nothing  is  more  abhorred,  of  God  or  man,  than  in- 
gratitude :  nothing  more  acceptable,  nothing  more  ex- 
pected, after  the  imparting  of  any  benefit,  than  grati- 
tude. Gratitude  imphes  sensibility,  generosity,  and  a 
feeling  of  obligation. 

This  and  the  two  preceding  Psalms  are  full  of  ex- 
pressions of  gratitude  ;  and  no  doubt  relate  to  some 
signal  deliverance  or  prosperit}",  which  God  had  af- 
forded. '  I  will  praise  thee,'  says  the  Psalmist;  "for 
thou  hast  heard  me.  and  art  become  my  salvation. 
The  stone  which  the  builders  refused,  is  become  the 
head-stone  of  the  comer.  This  is  the  Lord's  doing, 
and  it  is  marvellous  in  our  eyes.  God  is  the  Lord, 
which  hath  showed  us  light ;  bind  the  sacrifice  with 
cords,  even  unto  the  horns  of  the  altar.' 

Light  is  put  for  deliverance  and  prosperity ;  in 
contradistinction  to  the  use  of  the  word  darkness, 
which  signifies  afiliction.  '  God  is  the  Lord  which 
hath  showed  us  light' — some  signal  deliverance.  '  Bind 
ye  the  sacrifice  with  cords,  even  unto  the  horns  of  the 
altar:'  Every  acknowledgment  was  termed  a  sacri- 
fice, some  of  thanksgiving,  some  of  expiation.  Bring 
a  sacrifice,  an  offering  :  God  has  done  it.  Bring  such 
a  number  of  them,  as  a  learned  man  reads  it,  that  they 
shall  reach  even  to  the  horns  of  the  altar.    The  sen- 


ON  THE  VICTORY  OF  TRAFALGAR. 


77 


timent  is  evident.  It  is  as  if  he  had  said,  "  God  alone 
hath  wrought  this  dehverance  for  us  :  let  us  yield  the 
strongest  expression  of  our  gratitude  on  the  occasion.'* 

From  the  words  of  the  text  thus  explained,  I  shall 
raise  this  doctrinal  proposition,  and  apply  it  to  the 
present  occasion  : 

Special  deliverances  demand  special  ac- 
knowledgments. 

I.  Let  us  consider  SPECIAL  DELIVERANCES. 

Is  there  any  one  present,  who  needs  information  or 
Conviction,  with  regard  to  the  special  deliverances 
lately  received  by  this  nation  ?  There  is  scarcely  a 
man  among  you  who  could  not  detail  them  better  than 
myself :  for,  living  in  the  world,  in  business  and  in 
public  affairs,  you  hear  and  know  more  than  a  recluse 
like  myself  can  possibly  do. 

I  would  ask  you  then,  on  the  knowledge  which  you 
have  of  what  has  lately  passed  with  respect  to  this 
country.  Can  you  find  any  language  that  more  meets 
the  case  than  that  which  the  Psalmist  employs  through- 
out this  Psalm  ?  For  instance — '  They  compassed  me 
about,  like  bees :  they  are  quenched  as  the  fire  of 
thorns.  Thou  hast  thrust  sore  at  me,  that  I  might  fall : 
but  the  Lord  helped  me.  The  Lord  is  my  strength 
and  song,  and  is  become  my  salvation.  The  voice  oi 
rejoicing  and  salvation  is  in  the  tabernacles  of  the 
righteous  :  the  right-hand  of  the  Lord  doeth  valiantly : 
the  right-hand  of  the  Lord  is  exalted  ;  the  right-hand 
of  the  Lord  doeth  valiantly.  I  shall  not  die  But  live  : 
and  declare  the  works  of  the  Lord.  The  Lord  hath 
chastened  me  sore,  but  he  hath  not  given  me  over  unto 
death. — God  is  the  Lord,  who  hath  showed  us  light : 
bind  the  sacrifice  with  cords,  even  unto  the  horns  of 
the  altar.'  Bring  every  expression  of  your  acknow- 
ledgment on  such  an  occasion. 

If  any  person  present  should  question  the  greatness 
of  the  victory  which  we  commemorate  this  day,  oi 
the  merit  of  the  departed  victor,  I  would  send  him  frorri 

vof..  lu  2 


78 


SER^ION  VIII. 


this  pulpit  to  learn  of  a  seaman.  I  would  bid  him 
read  Lord  Collingwood's  Despatches,  where  the  true 
state  of  the  case  is  displayed  ;  and  displayed  in  a 
language  of  such  intelligence  and  evangelical  simplici- 
ty and  signification,  that  nothing  can  be  added  to  it. 

Yet  while  most  men  among  us  acknowledge  this, 
they  have  not  perhaps  sufficiently  regarded  the  par- 
ticular state  of  things  which  enhance  the  importancc 
of  the  victory.  They  may  not  have  observed,  for 
instance,  the  peculiarity  of  the  time ;  when  the  men 
of  might,  of  other  natidns,  do  not  seem  to  haze  found 
their  hands :  yet.  in  respect  to  us,  it  is  as  if  the  Al- 
mighty should  say,  'How  shall  I  give  thee  up.  Ephraim  ' 
How  shall  I  deliver  thee,  Israel  ?  How  shall  1  make 
thee  as  Admah  ?  How  shall  I  set  thee  as  Zeboim  ?' 
I  will  say  concerning  thine  enemies,  "  Hitherto  shalt 
thou  come,  but  no  further.'  Consider  the  peculiar 
circumstance  of  a  calm  afforded  on  the  occasion,  just 
before  the  storm  which  followed  the  battle  came  on  : 
as  if  the  waters  were  bid  to  stand  still,  that  the  victory 
might  be  obtained.  Consider  the  disproportion  in 
numbers,  both  of  men  and  guns  ;  which  was  so  great, 
that,  if  the  Lord  had  not  been  on  our  side,  nothwith- 
standing  the  prowess  of  our  sailors,  fhct/  must  have 
swallowed  us  up.  Consider,  that,  while  so  many  ol 
our  enemies'  ships  were  lost  in  the  subsequent  storm, 
not  a  single  British  ship  perished.  Consider,  that 
hereby  an  additional  defence  is  added  to  our  country, 
and  drawn  nearer  round  us  ;  now  no  longer  necessary 
for  a  blockade  :  and  this  at  a  time  when  we  were 
tlireatened  with  all  that  an  enraged  enemy  could  effecl 
against  us.  Consider,  too,  the  letter  which  God  put 
into  the  heart  of  our  admiral  to  send.  Behold  the 
answer,  also,  to  prayer :  while  we  were  praying  that 
God  would  disappoint  the  devices  of  our  enemies,  and 
give  victoiT  to  our  fleets  and  armies,  the  victory  was 
sained. 

These  considerations,  without  going  further  info 


ON  THE  VICTORY  OF  TRAFALGAR.  79 


the  detail,  will  oblige  us  to  say,  'God  is  the  Lord, 
who  hath  showed  ns  light.'  Our  national  deliverance 
is  great  and  marvellous :  but  I  must  remind  you,  my 
dear  hearers,  that,  if  we  do  not  speak  the  words 
of  the  text  with  a  still  higher  reference,  our  view  will 
be  defective.  The  word  of  God  is  vast  and  compre- 
hensive in  its  views:  where  it  sets  out  with  na- 
tional deliverances,  it  ends  in  a  reference  to  eternal 
concerns. 

The  victory  we  speak  of  is  doubtless  a  great  and 
singular .  one :  but,  let  me  remind  you  that  all  you 
can  say  of  it  is,  that  it  is  a  victory:  you  cannot  say 
that  it  is  tht  victory.  What  if,  at  a  stroke,  the  whole 
power  of  France  had  been  annihilated  :  what  if  the 
policy  and  falsehood  and  tyranny  of  that  nation  had 
been  swept  away  at  a  blow :  What  then  ?  you  reply, 

This  would  have  been  indeed  a  victory !"  yet  not 
tht  victory.  For,  let  me  ask  again.  What  if,  after  all 
the  conquests  that  could  be  possibly  obtained  on 
earth,  our  grand  enemies.  Sin,  Satan,  and  the  World 
remain  unsubdued  in  our  hearts — what  if,  after  all 
our  conquests,  we  ourselves  are  found  captives,  ene- 
mies to  God,  and  fighting  against  one  who  must  pre- 
vail :  what  if  the  victors  had  been  sent  after  the  van- 
quished, and  lodged  in  chains  of  darkness  for  ever  and 
ever — then  must  we  lament,  that  though  the  battle 
was  fought  and  gained,  yet  the  victory  was  lost  for 
ever! 

But  the  Scriptures  speak  to  our  case.  They  de- 
clare to  us  that  God  is  the  Lord,  which  shoiveth  us 
light  in  this  desperate  condition  of  human  nature. 
They  teach  us  how  to  say,  '  Thanks  be  unto  God  who 
giveth  us  THE  victory  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.' 
They  teach  us  to  understand  the  text  in  a  more  en- 
larged sense :  God  is  the  Lord,  zohich  hath  showed  us 
light  /  in  sending  Christ  to  be  the  light  of  the  world  ; 
and  in  promising,  that  he,  that  followeth  him,  'shall 
not  walk  in  darkness,  but  shall  have  the  light  of  life.' 


80 


SERMON  Vllf. 


The  word  of  God  teaches  us,  that,  now  'hfe  and  im- 
inortaUty  are  brought  to  hght  by  the  Gospel and 
that  the  hght  shall  be  made  to  '  shine  into  our  hearts,'" 
manifesting  'the  glory  of  God  in  the  face  of  Jesus 
Christ.' 

If  you  wish  to  inquire  whether  this  is  the  accomo- 
dated, or  the  actual  sense  of  the  passage ;  whether 
God  here  intended  temporal  victory,  or  that  victory 
which  shall  be  obtained  through  his  Son  ;  you  have 
only  to  turn  to  the  xxist  chapter  of  St.  Matthew,  and 
the  ivth  chapter  of  the  Acts,  where  you  will  find  this 
very  Psalm  applied  to  Christ,  the  light  of  the  world. 
We  may  say,  therefore,  with  Zacharias.  *  Blessed  be 
^he  Lord  God  of  Israel,  for  he  hath  visited  and  re- 
deemed his  people,  and  hath  raised  up  a  horn  of  sal- 
vation for  us  in  the  house  of  his  servant  David.'  We 
are  now  authorised  to  say,  whatever  may  be  the  con- 
dition of  human  nature,  '  Arise,  shine  :  for  thy  light  is 
come' — or,  as  it  may  be  rendered.  •  Be  thou  enlight- 
ened— the  glory  of  the  Lord  is  risen  upon  thee — God 
is  the  Lord,  which  hath  showed  us  light.' 

It  is  melancholy  to  behold,  what  must  be  daily  seen 
by  every  discerning  eye — multitudes  carried  away 
with  any  recent  event  of  a  temporal  nature,  yet 
wholly  insensible  to  that  subject,  which  is  of  infinitely 
greater  importance  to  them  : — "  An  amazing  victory 
has  been  achieved  !  Are  not  you  astonished  at  what 
has  been  done  '  What  a  glory  it  casts  on  this  nation ! 
What  a  hero  was  Lord  Nelson !  There  ought  to  be 
statues  erected  in  every  place  to  his  memory  !  What 
a  grand  event!  What  a  glorious  period  will  this  form 
in  English  history !"  All  this  is  very  true  :  but— there 
is  a  matter  of  infinitely  greater  importance  that  is 
quite  forgotten :  nay — it  is  even  offensive  to  mention 
it  at  such  a  time  !  What  a  picture  of  deep  depravity ! 
What  a  mean,  sordid,  stupid  heart  is  here !  W'hal 
•"■omparison  can  be  drawn  between  temporal  event> 
and  eternal  concerns ' 


ON  THE  VICTORY  OF  TRAFALGAR.  81 


What  is  life  itself  ?  I  cannot  see  a  more  striking 
answer  to  that  question  than  in  the  man  who  went 
out  to  fight  your  battles — There  the  man  stands  :  and 
the  eyes  of  the  nation  are  upon  him !  the  bulwark  of 
the  land  !  the  hope  of  Britain !  the  terror  of  our  ene- 
mies !  his  very  name  a  host !  A  single  bullet  lays  him 
dead !  and  the  next  we  see  of  him,  is  his  corpse  car- 
ried in  procession  through  the  streets  to  his  long 
home !    What  is  life  ? 

What  is  your  great  man !  your  mighty  man !  If, 
indeed,  he  be  a  wicked  man,  you  have  only  to  read 
one  part  of  the  book  of  Revelations  to  see — 'And 
the  kings  of  the  earth,  and  the  great  men,  and  the 
rich  men,  and  the  chief  captains,  and  the  mighty  men, 
and  every  bondman,  and  every  free  man,  hid  them- 
selves in  the  dens  and  in  the  rocks  of  the  mountains  ; 
and  said  to  the  mountains  and  rocks.  Fall  on  us,  and 
hide  us  from  the  face  of  him  that  sitteth  on  the  throne, 
and  from  the  wrath  of  the  Lamb :  for  the  great  day 
of  his  wrath  is  come,  and  who  shall  be  able  to  stand?' 
Here  were  men  who  were  able  to  stand  the  conflicts 
of  hosts,  and  to  stand  like  a  rock  amid  storms;  but 
they  had  not  prepared  for  eternity  ! 

Brethren  I  let  us  return  to  the  text :  God  is  the 
Lord,  which  hath  showed  us  light  in  all  these  cases  and 
events;  and  it  is  this  light,  that  brings  forward  eter- 
nal things  in  comparison  with  temporal  things,  and 
teaches  us  how  to  meet  the  Lamb  upon  the  throne, 
when  he  comes  to  be  glorified  in  his  saints,  and  to  be 
admired  in  all  them  that  believe,  when  these  great  men 
and  mighty  men  arc  calling  to  the  rocks  and  moun- 
tains to  hide  them  from  his  presence! 

II.  We  shall  proceed  to  consider,  that  Special 
Deliverances  demand  SPECIAL  ACKNOWLEDG- 
MENTS. 

Let  us  consider  this  part  of  the  subject — the  de- 
mand of  special  acknowledgments : — 'Bind  the  sacri- 
fice with  cords,  even  unto  the  horns  of  Ihc  altar.' 


82 


SERMON  Mil. 


Bind  them  with  cords,  and  lay  them  upon  it,  for  a 
thank-offering  to  God :  for  he  has  done  this. 

Thanksgiving  is  the  duty  of  every  individual  ol 
this  nation  :  '  for  the  crane  and  the  swallowr  know  the 
time  of  their  coming:  and  in  how  wretched  a.  state  is 
that  man,  who  knows  not  his  obligations  to  Him  who 
has  done  great  things  for  him !  A  mere  outward  ex- 
pression, in  attending  the  services  appointed  for  the 
day,  is  not,  however,  sufficient :  and  much  less  does  if 
become  the  man,  who  consecrates  the  day,  which  he 
calls  a  Day  of  Thanksgiving,  to  festivity  and  boasting 
in  an  arm  of  flesh;  who  forgets  God,  in  rioting  and 
drunkenness ;  who  loses  sight  of  eternal  things  and 
eternal  obligations,  in  some  temporal  event,  however 
glorious  and  however  important,  '  The  ox  knoweth 
his  owner,  and  the  ass  his  master's  crib :'  but  such  a 
man  coiisidereth  not,  nor  spcaketh  aright :  his  taste 
and  sentiment  are  wrong:  his  heart  is  earthly  and 
sensual. 

To  you,  my  dear  hearers,  I  would  address  the 
Apostle's  advice :  '  I  beseech  you,  Brethren,  by  the 
mercies  of  God,  that  you  present  your  bodies  a  living 
sacrifice,  holy,  acceptable  unto  God,  which  is  your 
reasonable  service.'  If  there  be  a  reasonable  service 
on  earth,  it  is  the  service  of  this  day — rightly  per- 
formed. In  the  text  a  sacrifice  is  enjoined  :  it  was  a 
typical  one  to  the  Jews,  laid  upon  a  brazen  altar :  it  is 
a  spiritual  service,  a  more  excellent  sacrifice,  that  is 
recommended  to  the  Christian — offered  through  Jesus 
Christ,  who  is  both  the  altar  and  priest.  As  members 
of  the  Church  of  England,  you  express  this  as  part  ol 
your  service  :  you  say,  "  Here  we  offer  and  present 
unto  thee,  O  Lord,  ourselves,  our  souls  and  bodies,  to 
be  a  reasonable,  holy,  and  lively  sacrifice  unto  thee  :" 
and  if  a  man  presents  himself,  we  may  be  assured  that 
every  thing  which  that  man  has  is  presented  also :  if 
you  take  hold  of  the  heart  of  a  man,  you  take  the 
whole  of  the  man.  and  all  that  he  has.    Such  a  man 


ON  THE  VICTORY  OF  TRAFALGAR 


83 


is  prepared  for  the  Apostle's  Exhortation,  Heb.  xiii, 
15,  16  :  'By  him  let  us  otTer  the  sacrifice  of  praise  to 
God  continually,  that  is  the  fruit  of  our  lips,  giving 
thanks  to  his  name.  But  to  do  good  and  to  commu- 
nicate forget  not ;  for  with  such  sacritices  God  is  well 
pleased.' 

Let  us  consider  the  duties  arising  out  of  this  sub- 
ject, as  it  respects  God,  our  neighbour,  and  ourselves. 

1.  With  respect  to  ourselves. 

We  should  recollect  the  necessity  of  proving  even 
to  ourselves,  that  we  are  sincere  when  we  come  be- 
fore the  Lord  :  for,  '  If  a  bcother  or  sister  be  naked, 
and  destitute  of  daily  food,  and  one  of  you  say  unto 
them,  Depart  in  peace :  be  ye  warmed  and  tilled  : 
notwithstanding  ye  give  them  not  those  things  which 
are  needful  to  the  body:  what  doth  it  profit?'  Our 
actions  must  satisfy  our  own  consciences. 

Hear  what  the  prophet  Isaiah  says,  even  of  a  Dav 
of  Humiliation  : — '  Is  not  this  the  fast  that  I  have  cho- 
sen— to  deal  thy  bread  to  the  hungry,  and  that  thou 
bring  the  poor  that  are  cast  out  to  thy  house  ?  when 
thou  seest  the  naked,  that  thou  cover  him  ;  and  that 
ihou  hide  not  thyself  from  thine  own  flesh  ?  then  shall 
thy  light  break  forth  as  the  morning,  and  thine  health 
shall  spring  forth  speedily  :  and  thy  righteousness  shall 
go  before  thee  :  the  glory  of  the  Lord  shall  be  thy 
reward  :'  then  is  it  evident,  that  there  is  reality  and 
sincerity  in  thy  services: 

But  much  more  does  it  become  us,  in  a  day  of 
Public  Acknowledgment,  to  say,  '  God  is  the  Lord, 
which  hath  showed  us  light :'  therefore  '  bind  the  sa- 
crifice with  cords,  even  unto  the  horns  of  the  altar.' 
The  wounded,  the  widow,  and  the  fatherless  plead 
with  you.  And  I  should  inform  you,  that  the  sums 
contributed  on  this  Day  of  Thanksgiving  will  be  ap- 
propriated to  the  seamen  and  marines,  and  to  the 
wives  and  children  of  the  killed  and  wounded;  and 
lhat  a  separate  account  is  to  be  kept  for  the  purpose, 


81 


so  that  your  benevolence  will  be  exclusively  applied 
to  the  relief  of  your  distressed  and  wounded  defenders, 
and  the  families  of  the  dead. 

And  this  leads  me  to  speak, 

2.  Of  our  duty  to  our  neighbour. 

A  caviller  once  said  to  Christ,  And  zcho  is  my 
neighbour  ?  Recollect  the  answer.  Remember  oui 
Lord's  sentiments  concerning  those  who  passed  b} 
the  wounded  man  that  had  fallen  among  thieves — One 
on  one  side,  the  other  on  the  other.  Reflect  on  what 
he  said  concerning  tlie  man  who  pitied  him,  took  care 
of  him,  set  him  on  his  own  breast,  poured  oil  and 
vsMne  into  his  wounds,  carried  him  to  an  inn.  and 
ordered  care  to  be  taken  of  him.  And  call  to  mind 
what  he  says  to  you  and  me  on  that  occasion  :  Go. 
itnd  do  thou  likewise  ! 

Here  is  your  duty  to  your  neighbour. 

You  will  recollect,  however,  that  this  man's  neigh- 
bour was  a  stranger  to  him.  The  neighbours  before 
us  are  our  countrymen,  the  men  who  defend  us  at  the 
peril  of  their  lives. 

1  cannot  conceive  a  nobler  institution  of  the  kind 
than  the  Patriotic  Fund.  I  cannot  conceive  a  more 
suitable  application  of  your  alms,  than  the  strengthen- 
ing of  the  hands  of  the  benevolent  persons  engaged 
in  managing  it,  and  the  enabling  of  them  to  do  things 
on  a  large  scale. 

Your  countryman  goes  forth  with  his  life  in  his 
hand;  panting,  with  exertion,  to  meet  the  common 
enemy.  He  is  wounded — not  with  a  ball,  but  with 
the  splinters  of  the  ship  ;  which  often  do  more  exe- 
cution than  the  balls  themselves.  He  is  maimed  for 
life.  Or,  it  may  be  that  he  is  killed,  before  the  battle 
is  over ;  and  perhaps  at  the  very  time  that  his  widow 
is  talking  to  her  child,  and  encouraging  it :  Ah !  my 
dear  child!  your  father  will  be  home  soon,  and  then 
our  wants  will  be  supplied :  we  shall  have  food  and 
clothing :  we  shall  not  be  distressed  then :  we  shall 


85 


have  plenty  of  money."  But — wife  or  child  never 
more  shall  he  behold !  Such  is  the  sacrifice  made  by 
this  man  ?  And  for  whom  is  it  made  ?  That  you  and 
I  may  abide  at  home  in  safety  :  that  you  and  I  may 
sleep  on  our  beds  in  peace :  that  you  and  1  may  be 
protected  in  our  property,  and  have  this  day  some- 
thing to  give  for  the  relief  of  the  distressed. 

Consider,  too,  what  encouragement  is  hereby  given 
to  these  warriors  to  go  forth.  "  If  I  lose  my  health, 
or  my  limbs,  or  my  life,"  they  will  reflect,  my 
grateful  country  will  take  up  my  wife  and  children 
when  I  am  dead.  [  go  satisfied  that  1  do  not  defend 
a  nation  that  is  ungrateful,  and  cares  nothing  for  me 
and  mine." 

You  see  then  your  duty  to  your  neighbour,  and  this 
neighbour  your  defender. 

Remember,  that  we  are  engaged  in  a  defensive 
war.  I  never  could  reconcile  it  to  my  conscience,  to 
plead  for  an  offensive  war;  for  a  war  of  ambition. 
I  consider  this  merely  as  a  defensive  war;  and  that 
our  ships  are  our  natural  bulwarks;  and  that  God 
has  been  pleased  to  bless  and  honour  the  exertions  of 
our  seamen  in  an  extraordinary  way  :  battle  after 
battle  has  been  accompanied  with  victory.  Now, 
therefore,  if  we  offer  our  sacrifice  of  praise  to-day, 
in  consequence  of  God's  sh(>wing  us  light,  let  us 
bind  the  sacrifice  with  cords,  even  unto  the  horns  of  the 
altar. 

3.  As  to  our  duty  with  respect  to  God,  let  us  re- 
member, that  our  sacrifices  should  be  offered  to  him, 
who  hath  done  great  things  for  us  :  we  should  do  what 
we  do  as  in  the  sight  of  God ;  giving  unto  him  what 
he  hath  given  unto  us.  He  hath  protected  us  hitherto, 
and  hath  made  us  a  most  distinguished  nation  ;  for, 
while  war,  famine,  desolation,  misery,  and  death  have 
gone  over  the  face  of  Europe,  what  a  picture  is  this 
country!  We  are  called,  therefore,  to  set  up  our 
Ebenezer — a  stone  of  help — if  we  consider  the  situa- 


86 


SERMON  VIII. 


tion  and  circumstances  in  which  we  are,  wmit  wp 
present  our  gifts  to  God  to-day.  Who  gave  thusc 
gifts  ?  How  are  we  enabled  to  offer  any  thing  ?  and 
if  God  will  accept  the  offering  at  our  hand,  if  he 
hath  declared  that  with  such  sacrifices  he  is  well 
pleased,  let  us  not  indulge  a  grudging  spirit,  or  raise 
any  thing  like  an  objection  or  cause  of  withholding  in 
our  minds.  Instead  of  being  the  poorer  for  oui 
gifts,  God  has  promised  to  repay  them.  He  has  said, 
that  he,  that  hath  pity  on  the  poor,  lendeth  to  the  Lord, 
and  that  he  icil I  repay  him.  I  think  I  am  authorized 
to  say,  that  never  did  such  an  occasion  .before  occur. 
Such  a  victory,  I  believe,  never  appeared  upon  record, 
and  perhaps  never  will  again.  God,  therefore,  ha^ 
showed  us  light :  let  us  bind  the  sacrifice  xnith  cnrds\ 
f-cen  to  the  horns  of  (he  altar. 


SERMON  IX, 


I'HE  BENEFIT  OF  AFFLICTION. 

Psalm  cxix,  71. 

U  15  p'ooJ  lor  me  that  I  have  been  afflicted;  that  I  might  learn  iln 
statutes. 

Though  the  Word  of  God  furnishes  a  Minister  with 
a  rich  variety  of  topics  ;  yet  his  discourses  will  be 
much  influenced  by  his  feelings,  and  coloured  by  his 
own  experience.  Is  he  a  nnan  strong  in  faith?  like 
one  standing  upon  a  mountain,  he  will  naturally  dis- 
course to  others  on  the  tirmness  of  the  foundation  on 
which  he  stands,  and  will  describe  to  them  the  beau- 
tics  of  the  prospects  around  him.  Does  he,  on  the 
contrary-,  tread  the  valley  of  tears?  he  will  then 
naturally  become  the  companion  of  the  afflicted, 
and  point  out  to  them  what  he  himself  learns  in  the 
vale. 

The  hand  of  God  is  discernible  in  all  this.  Brethren. 
He  teaches  men,  by  men.  As  the  Apostle  speaks, 
•  Whether  we  be  afflicted  ...  or  whether  we  be 
comforted,  it  is  for  your  consolation  and  salvation.' 

Thus,  in  the  text,  we  find  David,  who  was  an  emi- 
nent prophet  and  preacher,  leaving  on  record  a  pari 
of  his  own  experience  :  '  It  is  good  for  me  that  I  have 
been  afflicted  ;  that  I  might  learn  thy  statutes.' 

From  these  words  I  shall  take  occasion  to  discourse 
on  the  following  observation: — sanctified  afflic- 

riONS  STAND  AMONG  THE  REST  EXPOSITORS  OF  OOp'< 
WORD. 


88 


SERMON  IX. 


In  discoursing  on  this  observation,  let  us  inquire, 

1.  When  affliction  may  be  said  to  be  sanc- 
tified. 

2.  How   it  helps  to  explain  the  word  of 

GOD. 

I.  WHEN  IS  AFFLICTION  SANCTIFIED? 

By  sanctified  afflictions,  those  afflictions  may  be 
understood  which  man  receives  and  employs  to  holy 
purposes.  Sanctified  afflictions  are  those  stripes,  by 
which  the  heart  is  made  better.  While  some  men 
faint  under  these  strokes,  and  others  despise  them, 
sanctified  afflictions  become  a  wholesome  disciphne, 
and  administer  inestimable  instruction  to  God's  disci- 
ple. He  not  only  learns  his  way  by  them,  but  they 
teach  him  to  go  forward  in  his  way  :  such  afflictions 
bring  a  wanderer,  like  David,  back  to  his  God,  to  his 
neighbour  and  to  himself. 

Still  the  question  returns.  When  is  affliction  sancti- 
fied? 

1.  Affliction  is  sanctified,  when, — instead  of  ascrib- 
ing it  to  accident,  talking  of  chance,  or  dwelling  on 
what  man  can  do,  and  going  to  creatures  for  comfort, 
— WE  mark  the  finger  of  god  in  whatever  be- 
fals  us,  and  say  with  Job, '  The  Lord  gave,  and  the 
Lord  hath  taken  away  :  blessed  be  the  name  of  the 
Lord  or  when  we  are  taught  to  say  with  holy  David. 
"  I  was  dumb,  and  opened  not  my  mouth,  because  thou 
didst  it  :'  or  w^hen,  under  reproaches,  we  again  say. 
with  David, '  So  let  him  curse,  because  the  Lord  hath 
said  unto  him.  Curse  David.' 

2.  Affliction  is  sanctified,  when  a  man  is  brought 

fNTO   HIS  PLACE. 

To  bring  the  prodigal  back  to  his  father,  is  the  de- 
sign of  every  dispensation  ;  does  he  say,  '  1  will  arise 
and  go  to  my  Father  ?'  does  he  say, '  1  have  sinned 
against  thee,'  O  Lord? — 'Wherefore,'  then, '  shall  a 
living  man  complain  ? — a  man  for  the  punishment  of 
his  sins  ?    Let  us  search  and  try  our  ways,  and  turn 


THE  BENEFIT  OF  AFFLICTION. 


89 


unto  the  Lord,  for  he  will  still  hear!' — Is  this  his  lan- 
guage ? — It  is  then  the  language  of  a  sanctified  heart. 

3.  Affliction  is  sanctified  when  the  word  of  god 

BECOMES  PRECIOUS. 

The  man  has  not  only  a  Bible  in  his  house,  but  he 
now  takes  it  down,  reads  it,  and  makes  it  the  grand 
resource  of  his  afflicted  soul :  it  is  now  read  as  a  real- 
ity. When  affliction  is  sanctified,  the  word  of  God  is 
leaned  on  as  a  staff:  it  is  taken  as  a  cordial.  When, 
in  short,  the  soul  can  cast  anchor  on  that  word,  and  the 
man  can  say,  '  Remember  thy  word  unto  thy  servant, 
O  Lord,  on  which  thou  hast  caused  me  to  put  my  trust,' 
then  are  his  afflictions  sanctified. 

4.  Affliction  is  sanctified,  when  it  awakens  a 

MAN    FROM    HIS    CARNAL    SECURITY  ;  wlicn  it  driveS 

him  from  his  refuges  of  lies  ;  when  it  reminds  him  of 
his  secret  temptations,  and  sets  before  him  sins  unre- 
pented  of,  and  almost  forgotten. 

Take  an  instance  of  this.  '  We  are  verily  guilty,' 
said  the  brethren  of  Joseph, '  we  are  verily  guilty  con- 
cerning our  brother,  in  that  we  saw  the  anguish  of  his 
soul,  when  he  besought  us  and  we  would  not  hear : 
therefore  is  this  distress  come  upon  us.'  What  lan- 
guage is  this  ?  '  We  are  guilty  !  we  are  verily  guilty  !' 
How  strange,  that  the  sons  of  a  pious  father  should  not 
perceive  their  sin  before !  So  is  it  with  us,  my  Friends, 
till  the  enchantments  of  this  world  are  broken. 

5.  Affliction  is  sanctified,  when  faith  is  joined 
WITH  repentance  ;  when  the  soul,  under  its  sufTer- 
ings,  still  clings  to  the  mercy  of  God  in  Christ;  crying 
out,  with  Job, '  Though  he  slay  me,  yet  will  I  trust  in 
him :'  or,  with  Jacob,  when  he  wrestled  with  God, 
'  I  will  not  let  thee  go  except  thou  bless  me.'  That 
affliction  is  not  only  sanctified,  but  eminently  blessed, 
which  brings  a  sinner  to  Christ,  which  teaches  us  to 
wait  his  time,  and  to  acknowledge  his  mercy  in  a1! 
things. 

VOL.  11.  f) 


90 


SERMON  IX. 


II.  I  propose  to  consider  HOW  SANCTIFIED 
\FFLICTION  EXPLAINS  GOD'S  WORD. 

'  Before  I  was  afflicted,'  says  the  Psalmist,  '  I  went 
astray  ;  but  now  have  I  learnt  thy  word  ;'  or,  as  in  the 
text,  'It  is  good  for  me  that  I  have  been  afflicted,  that 
I  might  learn  thy  statutes.'  I  never,"  said  Luther, 
"knew  the  meaningof  God's  word,  till  I  was  afflicted:" 
and  the  preacher  can  say, "  I  well  know  now  what  it  is 
to  have  preached  from  a  text,  which  I  did  not  so  much 
as  understand,  till  it  was  thoroughly  opened  to  me  by 
experience." 

Sanctified  affliction  puts  men  on  inquiry.  It  makes 
them  look  within,  as  well  as  without.  It  quickens  the 
attention,  and  sharpens  the  sight.  It  stops  a  man  in 
his  mad  career  ;  and  gives  him  an  opportunity  to  com- 
pare what  God  has  said  with  what  he  actually  brings 
to  pass. 

Let  no  one  mistake  me  here,  as  if  I  asserted  that 
affliction  would  do  this  thing  of  itself.  Affliction  will 
only  explain  and  open  God's  word,  as  it  is  an  instru- 
ment in  the  hand  of  his  Spirit.  When  affliction  is  not 
sanctified,  it  will  often  lead  men,  like  Cain,  to  complain 
with  anguish  and  resentment  against  God  :  it  will  hard- 
en a  man  in  guilt :  it  will  plunge  him  into  despair. 

Brethren,  affliction  may  grind  a  man  to  powder, 
and  yet  produce  nothing  like  what  the  Scripture  calls 
a  broken  heart.  How  many,  instead  of  leaning  on 
God's  word  in  their  afflictions,  turn  from  that  word, 
as  the  head  would  turn  from  the  halter! 

It  is  only  then,  when  God  sanctifies  affliction,  that 
it  becomes  a  teacher  of  his  word ;  and  that  it  does 
this  the  text  asserts  :  It  is  good  for  me  that  I  have  been 
afflicted;  if  it  were  only  for  this  that  /  have  been 
taught  thy  word. 

Some  illustration  of  this  is  afforded  from  the  case 
of  David. 

As  if  David  had  said  :  "  God  had  always  told  me, 
in  his  word,  that  he  was  my  only  portion :  and  that 


THE  BENEFIT  OF  AFFLICTION.  91 


vanity  and  vexation  of  spirit  attend  all  human  pur- 
suits :  but  affliction  made  me  feel  this.  I  see  now  the 
sentence  of  death  inscribed  on  every  thing  in  this 
transient  world.  Oh,  that  I  had  learned  this  lesson 
sooner  from  his  word  ;  and  escaped  thereby  the  more 
painful  lessons  of  experience!" 

As  if  he  had  said  further :  "  God  had  told  me,  in  his 
word,  that  sin  is  a  rank  poison  to  the  soul,  and  that 
none  can  escape  its  bitter  consequences  :  yet  I  rolled 
it  as  a  sweet  morsel  under  my  tongue,  till  affliction  came, 
and  then  I  fled  for  my  life.  Then  I  said  every  jvord 
of  God  is  pure  :  for  he  is  not  a  man  that  he  should  lie.''^ 

"  1  have  been  taught,"  we  may  again  suppose  him 
to  say,  "  I  have  been  taught  to  sacrifice  the  blood  of 
goats  and  of  bulls,  as  the  shadow  of  good  things  to 
come  :  but  the  sin  under  which  I  laboured  would  have 
deceived  me,  had  not  God  thundered  in  my  con- 
science ;  nor,  till  I  was  awakened,  did  I  cry  out, 
'  Have  mercy  upon  me,  O  God,  have  mercy  upon  me  ; 
and  deliver  me  by  a  better  sacrifice  than  I  can  offer! 
Thou  desirest  truth  in  the  inward  parts  :  but  I  feel  such 
deep  depravity  in  my  heart,  that,  if  thou  hadst  not 
appointed  a  priest  after  the  order  of  Melchizedek,  thai 
cleanseth  from  all  sin,  there  had  been  no  hope  for 
me.'" 

Again,  the  word  teacheth  men  to  pray.  Affliction 
often  brought  David  to  his  knees  ;  and,  after  this,  he 
stands  forth  as  a  witness,  that  seeking  God  in  affliction 
is  the  first  step  towards  deliverance.  '  This  poor 
man,'  says  he,  'cried  ;  and  the  Lord  heard  him,  and 
delivered  him  out  of  all  his  trouble.' 

David  had  also  seen  the  ungodly  prosper:  his  foot 
had  hereon  well  nigh  slipped : — but  affliction  brought 
him  to  himself  and  to  the  word  of  God ;  and  then, 
and  not  till  then,  he  saw  the  end  of  these  men.  The 
word  by  Moses  had  shown  him  before  the  end  of  the 
wicked  :  but  it  is  one  thing  to  read  the  Bible,  hecause 


92 


SERMON  IX. 


it  is  our  duty;  and  it  is  another  thing  to  fly  to  tha< 
Bible  as  the  relief  of  our  doubts  and  difficulties. 

Once  more,  after  receiving  many  mercies  and  manj 
deliverances,  David  found  himself  in  the  midst  of  a 
sinful  and  distracted  family :  the  word  of  God  had 
taught  him  to  look  to  heaven  alone  for  comfort ;  but. 
like  Lot,  he  lingered — he  would  fain  have  foimd  some 
rest  for  the  sole  of  his  foot  in  his  own  house : — who 
does  not  resemble  him  herein  ? — Fain  would  he  have 
had  the  young  man  Absalom  spared !  But  affliction, 
at  length,  broke  the  enchantment,  because  it  was  a 
sanctified  affliction  ;  and  he  looks  up,  as  he  was  taught, 
to  a  Covenant  God  alone  for  comfort.  He  says,  '  Al- 
though my  house  be  not  so  with  God ;  yet  he  has 
made  with  me  an  everlasting  Covenant,  ordered  in  all 
things  and  sure,  and  this  is  all  my  salvation,  and  all 
my  desire.' 

Thus  we  see  affliction  may,  in  the  hand  of  God,  be- 
come an  excellent  Expositor  of  his  Word.  '  Now,' 
5ays  David,  '  have  I  learned  thy  statutes now  it  is 
that  I  have  learned  them  from  experience  and  afflic- 
tion,— more  practically,  more  perfectly,  more  in- 
wardly, more  experimentally. 

There  is  one  point  in  which  this  remark  hoWs  es- 
pecially true :  for  the  word  of  God  shows  us  all  how 
much  we  are  members  one  of  another  ;  and  with  how 
much  sympathy  and  tenderness  we  should  feel  and  act 
one  towards  another :  yet,  even  among  true  Chris- 
tians, who  is  the  man  that  has  thoroughly  learned  this 
lesson  before  he  is  afflicted  ?  While  I  say  sympathy, 
and  tenderness,  and  kindness,  and  forbearance,  and 
patience,  and  love  are  so  strongly  enforced  in  the  gos- 
pel, who  is  the  man  that  has  learned  this  lesson  of 
sympathy  ?  Is  it  the  man  in  health  ?  Is  it  the  pros- 
perous man  ?  Is  it  the  strong  man  ?  Is  it  the  man 
whose  neck  has  never  yet  bowed  to  the  yoke  of  afflic- 
lion  ?    We  know  the  contrary.    Even  Christ,  as  the 


THE  BENEFIT  OF  AFFLICTION. 


93 


Apostle  speaks,  was  tempted,  '  that  he  might  know 
how  to  succour  them  that  are  tempted :'  and  it  is  of- 
ten good  for  us  that  we  have  been  afflicted,  if  it  were 
only  that  we  might  know  thereby  how  to  sympathize 
with  others  ;  and  thus  learn,  not  only  the  statutes,  but 
the  temper  of  our  Master. 

Am  1,  then,  speaking  to  any  of  you,  my  dear  hear- 
ers, as  persons  now  in  trouble  ?  Let  me  ask  you 
whither  you  are  going  for  relief  in  your  trouble.  It 
is  a  critical  time  with  you — a  time  of  special  teach- 
ing :  and  what  have  you  learned  under  your  affliction  ? 

Have  you  heard  God  speaking  to  you,  as  well  as  the 
Bibl^;  ?  Have  you  spoken  to  him  again,  as  the  author 
of  your  trials  ? — for  '  aliliction  springeth  not  out  of 
the  dust.'  Have  you,  with  Hezekiah,  prayed  unto 
the  Lord  with  your  '  face  turned  toward  the  wall' — in 
secrecy  and  solitude  ?  Have  you,  with  St.  Paul,  car- 
ried the  '  thorn  in  the  flesh'  to  the  Saviour  ? — He  knew 
of  no  deliverer  nor  comforter,  but  Christ ;  he  carried, 
therefore,  his  trouble  to  him  ;  and  found  his  grace  suf- 
ficient under  that  trouble.  Bring  the  matter  home — 
Do  you  thus  honour  Christ,  as  the  only  one  '  that 
openeth,  and  no  man  shutteth ;  that  shutteth,  and  no 
man  openeth  ?'  Above  all,  have  you  begged  him  to 
sanctify  the  affliction,  that  it  may  thereby  become  a 
teacher  of  the  word  ?  Do  you  go  for  comfort  to  your 
Bible  ?  Do  you  find  that  Bible  interpreted  by  facts 
and  your  own  experience  ? — then  are  ye  witnesses  for 
God  :  ye  have  the  witness  in  yourselves  that  the  Bible 
is  the  word  of  God.  If  it  be  so,  you  know,  by  your 
own  feelings,  better  than  I  can  express  it  to  you,  how 
good  it  is  for  you  that  you  have  been  afflicted. 

On  the  contrary,  if  you  have  been  often  in  the  fur- 
nace of  affliction,  and  yet  your  vanity,  your  pride, 
your  worldly  mindedness,  your  carnal  atfections  have 
in  no  degree  departed  from  you,  then  hear  the  word 
of  the  Lord  : — affliction  is  God  speaking  to  the  hear,t 
one  way ;  and  his  word  now  speaks  to  your  conscience 

VOL.  II.  9* 


94 


SElliMON  IX. 


in  another.  Read  in  the  fourth  chapter  of  Amos, 
where  he  says,  '  I  have  overthrown  some  of  you,  as 
God  overthrew  Sodom  and  Gomorrah ;  and  ye  were 
as  a  firebrand  plucked  out  of  the  burning :  yet  have 
ye  not  returned  unto  me,  saith  the  Lord.  Therefore 
thus  will  I  do  unto  thee,  O  Israel !  and,  because  I  will 
do  this  unto  thee,  prepare  to  meet  thy  God,  O  Israel !' 
The  day  of  judgment  approacheth ;  therefore,  bre- 
thren, be  ye  ready :  for  '  he,  who  hardeneth  his  heart, 
shall  surely  be  destroyed,  and  that  without  remedy.' 

Christians  !  be  wise  to  use  your  afflictive  dispensa- 
tions as  from  God.  The  winter  season  is  precious  to 
the  husbandman  ;  for  he  then  sows  his  corn  :  so  is  it 
with  the  Christian  :  weeping  must  not,  therefore,  hin- 
der sowing.  Affliction,  when  sanctified,  is  a  gift :  '  I( 
is  GIVEN,'  says  the  Apostle,  '  in  the  behalf  of  Christ, 
not  only  to  believe  on  him,  but  also  to  suffer  for  his 
name.' 

Affliction,  indeed,  is  the  only  gift,  for  which  we  arc 
not  commanded  to  pray ;  but  a  wise  and  instructed 
Christian  will  know  that  he  ought  to  pray  for  a  sanc- 
tified use  of  it  when  sent :  we  ought  to  pray  that  all 
this  cost  may  not  be  in  vain  ;  we  ought  to  pray,  that, 
by  all  these  afflictions,  we  may  be  brought  nearer  to 
God,  and  more  out  of  the  world,  and  never  doubt  any 
word  of  God,  or  murmur  against  any  of  his  dispensa- 
tions, however  much  we  may  for  the  present  suffer. 
In  sickness  and  pain,  we  not  only  send  for  a  physician, 
but  we  commit  ourselves  to  him  :  we  take  thankfully 
his  medicines,  though  they  are  unpalatable  :  we  trust 
to  him,  that  he  will  restore  us  to  our  health. 

Ah  !  which  of  us  thus  trusts  the  Lord  ?  Who  i^ 
there  among  us,  that  thus  takes  his  bitter  medicines, 
though  we  are  sure  he  cannot  mistake  our  case  ?  Phy- 
sicians may  err  :  He  cannot.  And  yet,  has  he  never 
taught  us  by  past  trials  ? — have  we  never  received 
relief  in  times  past?  Who,  that  is  thoroughly  instruct- 
ed can  avoid  saying,  with  David,  from  what  is  past. 


THE  BENEFIT  OF  AFFLICTION. 


95 


•  It  is  good  for  me  that  I  have  been  afflicted,  that  1 
might  leani  thy  statutes  ?' 

Take  then.  Christian !  your  particular  case  to  the 
Bible  this  day :  and  that  case  will  open  to  you  much 
meaning  in  the  Bible,  while  the  Bible  itself  will  throw 
a  meaning  on  your  case  however  dark  :  it  will  place 
your  situation  in  a  new  point  of  view :  you  may  so 
have  the  good  word  brought  home  to  your  hearts  and 
consciences,  that,  like  Hannah,  you  may  go  away  '  no 
more  sad,'  but '  rejoicing  in  the  God  of  your  salvation.' 

May  we  all  be  so  instructed  in  the  school  of  afflic- 
tion, that  we  may  stand  as  those  that  are  spoken  of  in 
the  seventh  chapter  of  the  book  of  Revelation : — 
'  These  are  they,  which  came  out  of  great  tribulation ; 
and  have  washed  their  robes,  and  made  them  white  in 
Ihc  blood  of  (he  Lamb  !' 


SERMON  X. 


TO  CHILDREN  AND  PARENTS. 

Proverbs,  iv,  1. 
J I  ear,  j-e  Cliildren,  the  Instruction  of  a  Father. 

The  speaker  here  is  King  Solomon  ;  who,  while  he  i- 
about  to  offer  some  very  interesting  remarks,  and  to 
enforce  some  very  instructive  doctrines,  calls  for  a 
particular  attention.  He  calls  as  one  that  is  a  father, 
as  a  man  of  experience,  as  a  man  of  an  affectionate 
heart ;  and  he  declares  that  he  himself  was  instructed 
in  this  way,  under  the  blessing  of  God,  so  as  to  bt 
made  wise.  '  I,'  says  he,  (iv,  3 — 1 3) '  was  my  father's 
son,  tender  and  only  beloved  in  the  sight  of  my  mo- 
ther. He  taught  me  also,  and  said  unto  me,  Let  thy 
heart  retain  my  words :  keep  my  commandments,  and 
live.  Get  wisdom  :  get  understanding — the  wisdom 
that  is  from  above' — the  wisdom,  which  will  make  a 
man  '  wise  unto  salvation.'  '  Get  wisdom  :  get  under- 
standing :  forget  it  not,  neither  decline  from  the  words 
of  my  mouth.  Forsake  her  not,  and  she  shall  pre- 
serve thee  :  love  her  and  she  shall  keep  thee.  Wis- 
dom is  the  principal  thing;  therefore  get  wisdom: 
and,  with  all  thy  getting,  get  understanding.  Exalt 
her,  and  she  shall  promote  thee ;  she  shall  bring  thee 
to  honour,  when  thou  dost  embrace  her.  She  shall 
give  to  thy  head  an  ornament  of  grace :  a  crown  of 
glory  shall  she  deliver  to  thee.  Hear,  O  my  son,  and 
receive  my  sayings ;  and  the  years  of  thy  life  shall 

'*  This  Sermon  was  preached  at  the  fii-st  establishment  of  Hit- 
Scho'ols  for  Religious  Instruction  at  St.  John's  Chapel,  J.  P. 


TO  CHILDREN  AND  PARENTS. 


97 


be  many.  I  have  taught  thee  in  the  way  of  wisdom: 
I  have  led  thee  in  right  paths.  When  thou  goest,  thy 
steps  shall  not  be  straitened  ;  and  when  thou  runnest. 
thou  shalt  not  stumble.  Take  fast  hold  of  instruction : 
let  her  not  go  :  keep  her,  for  she  is  thy  life.' 
I  shall  address, 

1.  Young  people,  and  especially  children. 

2.  Those  who  are  parents  and  guardians. 
I.  I  address  CHILDREN. 

'Hear,  ye  Children,'  for  1  speak  to  you  :  'hear,  ye 
Children,  the  instruction  of  a  father,  and  attend  to 
know  understanding.' 

1.  I  must  inform  you  that  your  interest  has 
BEEN  SERIOUSLY  THOUGHT  OF  by  your  Ministers,  and 
by  some  other  friends  who  belong  to  this  place. 

And,  in  order  to  give  you  the  more  simply  and  plainly 
my  mind  upon  the  subject,  I  will  tell  you  what  has 
been  our  conversation  respecting  you. 

We  have  said  :  What  a  number  of  precious  souls 
are  here !  And  what  a  number  are  there  about  the 
streets,  who,  when  we  come  to  converse  with  them, 
are  totally  insensible  with  respect  to  the  things  of  God ! 
What  can  be  done  for  them  ?  Can  we  think  of  any 
plan  ?  Can  we  contrive  any  thing  to  set  them  on  think- 
ing ?  Suppose  we  get  a  number  of  them  together,  and 
give  them  such  little  help  as  we  can  ;  and  get  them  a 
master  and  mistress  to  teach  them  to  read,  and  col- 
lect a  little  money  to  buy  them  some  books,  and  ga- 
ther them  together,  and  contrive  methods  that  we  may 
at  least  set  some  of  them  to  remember  their  Creator  in 
the  days  of  their  youth." 

2.  It  has  been  sard,  that  it  is  very  difficult,  af- 
ter ALL,  TO  GAIN   YOUR  ATTENTION. 

Though  we  say  to  children, '  Hear,  ye  Children,  the 
instruction  of  a  father  ;' — of  a  father  ;  of  those,  who 
love  you, — of  those,  who  would  save  you  from  eter- 
nally ruining  yourselves  ;  yet,  it  has  been  said,  "  How 
difficult  it  is  to  get  these  children  seriously  to  attend  !'* 


98 


SERMON  X. 


Is  this  the  case,  my  dear  childrea? — Is  it  not? — 
And  yet,  are  we  not  planning,  and  consulting,  and 
devising  expedients  for  your  good  ?  Do  we  not  pro- 
pose making  you  happy  ? — to  put  you  out  of  of  dan- 
ger ?  Are  we  not  consulting  your  best  interests,  in  this 
world  and  in  that  which  is  to  come  ?  What  is  it  but 
love,  that  urges  your  parents  and  friends  ? 

I  beg  of  you  seriously  to  think  of  what  we  are  doing. 
If  you  were  a  shepherd,  who  had  missed  a  lamb  out 
of  his  flock,  and  was  toiling  and  exliausting  himself  in 
the  wilderness  to  tind  it  and  bring  it  back  to  his  fold 
that  it  might  not  be  devoured  by  wild  beasts,  you 
would  see  a  picture  of  what  we  are  doing. 

Consider  now.  therefore,  for  a  moment  this  very 
point  which  we  have  been  speaking  of, — the  difficulty 
of  getting  you  to  attend  to  these  things : — that  we 
have  all  wandered  from  God  :  that  we  have  all  erred 
and  strayed  like  lost  sheep  ;  that  we  have  left  undone 
what  we  should  have  done,  and  done  what  we  should 
not  have  done  ;  that  there  is  no  health  in  us ;  that  we 
are  ahve  to  every  trifle,  and  ready  for  every  foolish 
thing. 

WTiat  child  is  there  that  does  not  get  hold  of  and 
pay  great  attention  to  foolish  trifles  ? — an  idle  song  ?  a 
foolish  tale  ?  to  the  very  things  that  would  corrupt  him  / 
But.  when  we  are  speaking  to  you  of  the  only  thing, 
either  in  this  world  or  that  to  come  which  can  make 
you  happy,  what  is  the  reason,  that,  when  the  kingdom 
of  the  Lord  .Jesus  Christ  in  both  worlds  is  set  before 
you.  your  minds  are  Hght  and  wanderiiig  like  chaff  be- 
fore the  wind  ? 

I  want  to  convince  you  that  we  are  all,  every  one  of 
us,  perishing  sinners ;  and  that  the  god  of  this  world 
hath  blinded  our  eves,  that  the  light  of  the  glorious 
gospel  of  God  should  not  shine  into  our  hearts. 

3.  I  will  tell  }  ou)  what  else  has  been  said.  It  has 
been  said,  that  there  is  not  only  a  difficulty  in  making 


TO  CHILDREN  AND  PARENTS. 


99 


children  think  seriously  of  what  they  hear,  but,  be- 
cause they  are  so  young,  it  is  very  difficult  to 

MAKE  THEM  UNDERSTAND  AND  COMPREHEND  THAT 
RELIGION   BY   WHICH   THEY   MUST   BE  SAVED. 

When  we  say,  'Hear,  ye  Children,  the  instruction 
of  a  father,'  if  that  instruction  relates  to  their  salva- 
tion, people  are  ready  to  say,  "  You  never  can  make 
them  understand  you." 

But  this  I  must  beg  leave  to  deny.  I  acknowledge 
to  you.  that  there  are  many  things  in  the  Bible,  which 
are  of  such  a  deep  and  difficult  nature,  that  the  most 
learned  man  cannot  entirely  enter  into  them  ;  but,  with 
respect  to  what  is  necessary  to  your  present  and  eter- 
nal happiness,  you  are  not  incapable  of  understanding 
it.  For  instance  :  if  you  can  be  brought  seriously  to 
think  of  the  instruction  afforded  you  at  school,  you 
can  easily  think  and  understand  that  you  are  a  sinner. 
— that  you  have  been  unkind  and  ungrateful  to  your 
parents  and  friends, — that  you  have  been  sinners 
against  God  and  his  commands, — that  you  have  told 
lies,  and  done  things  that  your  own  consciences  have 
told  you  were  wrong, — and  that  you  are  sometimes 
committing  a  double  fault,  first  committing  the  fault 
itself,  then  telling  a  falsehood  to  cover  it. 

Why  a  child  knows — for  1  have  been  a  child,  and  I 
recollect  what  a  child  thinks  and  does — a  child  knows 
he  is  wrong,  and  that  his  manner  of  going  on  is  con- 
trary to  what  he  reads  in  God's  word  ;  and  a  child 
can  also  read  in  the  Bible,  that  the  small  and  the 
great  must  one  day  stand  before  God  in  judgment : 
not  only  the  aged,  but  the  young  must  be  judged.  A 
child  can  see  in  the  Bible,  that,  if  God  had  not  provi- 
ded a  Saviour,  our  mouths  must  all  have  been  for  ever 
stopped  before  him.  Young  and  old  are  guilty  before 
God. 

Now,  therefore,  cannot  you  understand  that  you  arc 
sinners?  Have  you  not  been  obliged,  very  often,  to 
confess  how  wrong  your  conduct  has  been,  both  to- 


100 


SERMON  X. 


ward  God  and  your  parents  ?  On  the  other  hand, 
cannot  you  understand  how  gracious  God  has  been  ? 
not  only  in  sending  Jesiis  Christ  to  save  sinners,  who 
promises  pardon  through  his  blood,  and  his  Holy 
Spirit  to  purify  the  heart  and  make  it  alive  to  God  and 
to  love  him  ;  but  you  may  also  read  how  gracious  this 
Saviour  was  to  those  children  that  were  brought  to 
him,  when  his  disciples  would  have  kept  them  back 
that  they  might  not  be  a  trouble  to  him.  He  says. 
Suffer  the  little  children  to  come  unto  me  :  and  he  took 
little  children  up  in  his  arms,  and  blessed  them ;  as 
though  he  had  said,  "  I  love  children.  Bring  them 
to  me.  1  love  children  to  come  unto  me  ;  and  there- 
fore 1  now  set  it  up  as  a  monument  in  my  Church  to 
show  that  I  love  them  to  come  unto  me." 

You  can  read  in  your  Bibles  about  a  foolish  young 
man  going  away  from  his  father's  house,  and  advice, 
and  instruction,  and  ruining  himself.  What  a  misera- 
ble mistake  it  is,  for  you  to  suppose  that  you  can  do 
better  for  yourselves,  than  your  parents  can  or  will  do 
for  you  ! — better,  without  your  father's  advice  and 
counsel,  than  with  it!  And  what  a  miserable  mistake 
it  is,  for  a  man  to  think  he  can  do  better  without  God. 
than  with  him  ;  to  fly  from  God's  own  counsel,  his  un- 
erring word  of  truth ! 

You  can  there  read  about  poor  Lazarus ;  and  see 
what  a  crown  is  preparing  for  a  man,  if  he  has  but  a 
praying  heart.  Though  covered  with  rags,  his  afflic- 
tion is  but  for  a  moment :  and  he  is  removed,  and  car- 
ried into  Abraham's  bosom :  while  the  rich  man's 
glory  passes  away  like  a  dream  ;  and  he  goes  down 
into  hell,  where  he  cannot  get  one  drop  of  water  to 
cool  his  tormented  tongue. 

You  may,  therefore,  see  enough  in  the  Bible,  and  in 
the  good  books  put  into  your  hands,  to  teach  you 
what  is  the  mind  and  will  of  God  concerning  you : 
and  you  are  capable  of  receiving  a  gracious  proposal 
from  God  in  Jesus  Christ,  inviting  you  to  come  to  him, 
that  you  may  have  life  here  and  eternal  life  hereafter. 


TO  CHILDREN  AND  PARENTS. 


101 


If  your  parents'  houses  were  on  fire,  you  would  be 
glad  of  any  hand  to  take  hold  of  you,  that  you  might 
not  be  burnt :  now  what  is  the  Gospel  ? — It  is  God's 
hand  stretched  out,  while  he  says,  Hear,  that  your 
louls  may  live. 

If  you  had  lived  in  Noah's  time,  you  would  have 
understood,  that,  if  you  did  not  enter  into  the  Ark, 
you  must  be  drowned.  So,  at  this  day,  Jesus  Christ 
is  preached  in  the  Gospel  to  you,  and  is  set  forth  ae 
the  only  Saviour — the  Deliverer — the  High  Priest 
sent  from  God  to  redeem  you  by  his  blood,  and  to 
take  you  to  his  kingdom  when  you  die ;  and  if  yoit 
accept  of  God's  salvation,  you  shall  live,  as  Noah  did. 

Let  me  say  one  thing  more  to  you. 

Suppose,  when  you  think  of  these  things,  you  find 
your  minds  puzzled  ;  and  when  you  get  home,  you 
say — "  I  cannot  understand,  after  all  the  pains  the 
Minister  has  been  taking  with  me,  I  cannot  understand 
how  1  am  to  be  saved,  and  to  escape  the  misery  of  the 
rich  man  that  he  was  telling  me  of,  and  gain  Abraham's 
bosom." 

Then  1  will  tell  you  what  to  do : — go,  and  kneel 
down,  and  say,  "  O  Lord !  I  am  a  poor,  ignorant 
child  :  I  cannot  teach  myself,  and  the  Minister  cannol 
teach  me :  but  thou  canst  teach  me.  Thou  didst 
teach  young  Samuel,  when  the  High  Priest  could  not: 
therefore  send  thy  Holy  Spirit  to  teach  me,  and  to 
make  me  understand  thy  love.  Oh,  make  a  child  to 
understand  thy  mind  ;  and  send  thy  Spirit,  that  he 
may  be  light  and  life  to  me." 

But,  mind!  I  would  not  have  you  suppose  thai 
Samuel  was  the  only  child  taught  by  the  Holy  Spirit; 
for  many  are  the  instances  of  young  children,  that 
have  early  sought  the  Lord  and  found  him  :  they  have 
been  made  wise  unto  salvation,  have  known  the  wav 
of  life,  and  have  taken  fast  hold  of  wisdom  and  not 
let  it  go.  They  have  talked  of  religion  to  children 
older  than  themselves,  and  have  even  been  their  irt- 

VOL.  II.  10 


102 


SERMON  X. 


structors ;  and  I  should  tell  you,  as  a  witness,  that  I 
have  known  several  of  them  who  have  lived  orna- 
ments to  the  Church,  and  died  rejoicing  in  Christ,  and 
went  undoubtedly  to  a  better  world. 

4.  1  will  tell  you  one  thing  more  that  has  been  said 
with  respect  to  you.  It  has  been  said,  when  we  con- 
versed about  it, — tor  we  think  of  you,  when  you 
think  not  that  we  do, — it  has  been  said,  that,  notwith- 
standing all  that  has  been  done  for  you,  in  teaching 
you,  giving  you  books,  preaching  sermons  to  you,  and 
talking  with  you,  it  has  been  said,  that  general  ix- 
STRucTiox  IS  NOT  suFFiciEXT;  that  there  must  be 
other  helps  :  you  must  be  taught  at  home  ;  and  every 
thing,  that  can  be  thought  of,  should  be  done  to  im- 
press religion  on  your  minds.  Now  if  this  be  neces- 
sary, then  be  thankful  to  any  friend  for  any  help 
afforded  you.  Say  of  such — "  Here  is  one,  who 
cares  for  me.  Here  is  one,  who  loves  me  ;  who  loves 
my  eternal  interest;  who  would  keep  me  from  poi- 
sonous examples." 

But  especially,  my  dear  children,  you  should  hear 
the  instruction  of  a  father,  with  respect  to  your  Pa- 
rents, who  are  particularly  appointed  to  instruct  you. 
I  shall  not  now  be  able  to  sa}'  enough  on  this  subject 
to  you.  nor  should  I  if  I  were  to  take  up  a  whole  dis- 
course in  preaching  on  this  point :  1  could  not  suffi- 
ciently show  you  the  deep  and  lasting  obligations,  un- 
der which  you  lie  to  your  parents ;  and  how  you 
ought  to  be  studying,  on  every  occasion,  to  show  them 
how  much  you  feel  yourselves  indebted  to  them. 
None  can  love  you  like  a  parent.  Non6  cares  for 
your  interest  like  a  parent.  None  thinks  of  you 
awake  or  asleep  like  a  parent.  When  you  are  at 
play,  their  hearts  are  often  aching  for  you  :  and  you 
will  never  know  the  value  of  your  parents,  till  you 
lose  them. 

And  I  should  tell  you,  that  God  has  set  a  mark  on 
children  who  honour  their  parents  ;  and  a  mark  upon 


TO  CHILDREN  AND  PARENTS. 


103 


them,  who  slight  them  :  and  I  declare  to  you,  that  I 
never  saw  a  child  which  behaved  perversely  and  dis- 
obediently to  his  parents,  on  whom  God  did  not  set  a 
black  mark,  for  whom  he  did  not  raise  up  plagues  and 
scourges. 

On  the  other  hand,  if  a  child  has  been  obedient 
and  affectionate,  and  has  had  a  dutiful  regard  for  his 
parents,  I  have  often  had  occasion  to  think  of  those 
Avords,  'Honour  thy  father  and  thy  mother;  that  thy 
days  may  be  long  in  the  land,  which  the  Lord  thy  God 
giveth  thee.' 

But  to  return  to  the  point  from  whence  I  just  now 
set  out,  if  the  instruction  of  your  Minister  needs  to 
be  followed  up  at  home — if  this  has  been  said  among 
us,  that  general  instruction  wants  following  up  at 
home,  that  things  must  not  be  left  in  the  pulpit  or  the 
chapel — if  this  be  the  case,  I  ought  to  speak. 

II.  To  PARENTS  and  HEADS  OF  FAMILIES. 

And  I  say  to  such  parents  as  are  present,  your  own 
salvation  is  your  first  concern ;  and,  till  you  are 
in  earnest  and  anxious  about  that,  I  shall  never  hope 
to  see  you  anxious  about  the  salvation  of  your 
children. 

But  of  this  you  hear  continually.  You  hear  con- 
tinually impressed  on  you  the  importance  of  fleeing 
from  the  wrath  to  come  ;  and  that  to  purpose,  by  flee- 
ing to  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

I  must  now  pass  by  your  own  personal  concern  for 
salvation,  to  sjjeak  to  you  of  that  special  charge  com- 
mitted to  you  in  your  dear  children.  If  they  were 
only  to  live  here  for  a  little  while,  and  then  die  for 
ever,  and  go  as  the  atheist  talks  into  an  eternal  sleep, 
then  indeed  you  need  only  be  concerned  for  their 
well-being  here.  But  the  children  committed  to  you 
are  immortals.  It  is  true,  they  live  but  a  little  while, 
here  5  but  they  will  live  for  ever,  in  a  future  world. 
And  what  does  the  word  of  God  say  to  the  conscience 
of  a  parent  concerning  every  child  committed  to  his 


104 


SERMON  X. 


trust?  that  which  Pharaoh's  daughter  said  to  the 
nurse,  '  Take  this  child,  and  nurse  it  for  me' — "  Take 
this  child,''''  God  says  to  every  parent,  "  and  nurse  it 
for  me,  1  give  it  you  in  charge.  I  commit  it  to 
your  hand."  And,  though  you  do  right  to  call  in  all 
the  help  you  can,  carrying  it  to  the  ministers  of  Christ 
or  to  Institutions  set  up  to  instruct  it,  yet  you  have 
the  charge ;  and  I  must  tell  you  that  there  is  no  solid 
ground  for  your  hope  of  any  happiness  for  it,  even  in 
this  world,  till  religion  takes  hold  of  its  heart. 

I  have  especial  reason  for  speaking  thus,  because  1 
look  back  with  shame,  and  confess  how  many  years  1 
was  a  torment  and  distress  to  my  parents ;  and  there- 
fore I  speak  as  a  public  witness  :  and  the  Royal 
Preacher  is  also  a  witness ;  for,  while  he  calls  others 
to  hear  his  doctrine,  he  says,  '  I  was  my  father's  son, 
tender  and  only  beloved  in  the  sight  of  my  mother. 
He  taught  me  also,  and  said  unto  me,  Let  thy  heart 
retain  my  words:  keep  my  commandments  and  live. 
Get  wisdom :  get  understanding:'  and  it  as  if  he  had 
added,  "  The  Lord  gave  a  blessing  to  my  father  and 
mother ;  and  here  I  stand,  a  witness  to  the  success  of 
such  conduct." 

I  would  speak  a  word  to  the  hearts  of  you  parents. 
I  would  appeal  to  you  ;  for  I  am  a  parent  also,  and  I 
know  how  discouraging  it  is,  after  striving  to  turn  the 
hearts  of  children,  to  see  them  return  back  again,  and 
start  aside  like  a  broken  bow.  Our  hearts  are  ready 
to  faint  in  this  work  ;  and  to  plead,  "  It  never  can  be 
done  :"  but  this  is  a  great  temptation. 

I  would  have  you  all  despair,  indeed,  of  doing  any 
thing  to  purpose  without  God,  either  for  your  own 
souls  or  your  children's.  I  smile  at  the  man  who 
comes  forward  and  says,  "  1  have  an  infallible  plan  I 
I  have  a  sure  method  of  education  !  I  can  bend  the 
mind,  and  teach  to  purpose!"  The  man  is  blind, 
and  knows  not  that  God  only  can  change  and  direct 
the  heart. 


TO  CHILDREN  AND  PARENTS. 


10^ 


"  Yet,  while  we  should  despair  of  etTecting  any  thing 
by  our  own  power  and  wisdom,  I  charge  it  upon  you 
in  the  name  of  God,  I  charge  it  upon  you  as  one  that 
would  secure  you  from  the  temptations  of  Satan, 
never  to  despair  respecting  your  children:  and  for 
this  reason ;  because  you  may  put  your  trust  in  a  Di- 
vine Power,  when  you  can  hope  in  nothing  else. 

The  question  is  this,  Has  God  spoken  to  us  in  liis 
word  ?  Has  he  not  said,  '  Train  up  a  child  in  the  way 
he  should  go,  and  when  he  is  old' — mark  that,  'when 
he  is  old,'  if  not  before — '  he  shall  not  depart  from 
it?' 

On  the  other  hand,  has  he  not  spoken  of  neglecting 
them  .''  of  giving  them  up  to  their  own  lusts  ?  Has  he 
not  said,  that,  'As  a  man  soweth,  so  shall  he  also 
reap  :  he  that  sowetli  to  the  flesh' — that  pampers  his 
child,  teaches  him  to  admire  what  God  hates,  and 
slight  what  God  recommends — must  take  all  the  sad 
consequences  of  their  eternal  ruin  upon  his  own 
head  ? 

'  In  the  morning,'  therefore,  '  sow  thy  seed  ;  and  in 
the  evening,  withhold  not  thy  hand.'  The  husband- 
man does  not  despair,  but  sows  the  seed,  and  waits 
for  tiie  season :  that  is,  he  waits  for  God's  time. 
Seed-time  and  harvest  are  periodical  in  nature  :  but 
the  seed  which  the  parent  sows  has  no  such  periodical 
seasons.  It  comes  up  when  God  pleases.  And  I 
must  also  tell  you,  as  a  public  witness  for  God  and  his 
truth,  that  you  should  never  despair.  No  distressed 
woman  ever  hoped  more  against  hope,  than  the  mother 
of  your  Preacher :  but  she  prayed ;  and  while  she 
prayed,  she  waited  patiently,  and  put  her  trust  in  an 
Omnipotent  Arm.  Like  the  Syro-Phenician  woman, 
she  cried,  Lord  help  me!  She  not  only  prayed,  and 
waited;  but  she  instructed  his  mind,  and  then  waited 
God's  season  :  and  she  lived  long  enough  lo  hear  that 
her  child  '  preached  that  Gospel  which  he  once  dc- 

voi,.  ir.  10* 


^^ERMON  X. 


spised  •,'  and  she  said,  '  Now,  Lord,  lettest  thou  thy 
servant  depart  in  peace !' 

My  dear  friends,  it  was  on  this  principle,  that  Noah 
framed  his  ark:  'warned  of  God,  and  moved  with 
fear,  he  prepared  an  ark  to  the  saving  of  his  house 
his  faith  saved  his  family  from  the  Flood.  God  bears 
testimony,  also,  (Gen.  xviii,  19,)  to  (he  faith  of  Abra- 
ham :  '  I  know  him,  that  he  will  command  his  chil- 
dren and  his  household  after  him  :'  and  '  them  that 
honour  me,'  God  says,  '  I  will  honour.'  It  is  said, 
(Exod.  ix,  20,  21,)  '  He,  that  feared  the  word  of  the 
Lord  among  the  servants  of  Pharaoh,  made  his  ser- 
vants and  his  cattle  flee  unto  the  houses  •,'  and  they 
were  saved  from  the!  storm :  '  and  he,  that  regarded 
not  the  word  of  the  Lord,  left  his  servants  and  his 
cattle  in  the  tield ;'  that  is,  they  let  things  take  their 
course  :  and  that  is  the  general  way  of  the  world. 

I  beseech  you  to  take  up  the  holy  reasoning,  then, 
of  the  holy  men  of  whom  1  have  been  speaking — the 
holy  resolution,  in  the  midst  of  an  ungodly  world,  of 
saving  your  own  souls,  and  those  of  your  children. 
Say  with  Joshua,  'As  for  me  and  my  house,  we  will 
serve  the  Lord.'  Think  of  the  case  of  Eli,  who. 
though  a  good  man,  forgot  good  rules,  neglected  his 
sons,  and  suffered  them  to  run  at  random  :  God  brought 
a  heavy  judgment  on  the  house  of  Eli,  and  told  him 
that  as  he  had  honoured  his  sons  more  than  him,  he 
would  bring  reproach  upon  his  house.  I  beseech  you. 
therefore,  to  look  on  your  children,  in  this  way  of  true 
affection  ;  and  not  to  be  anxious  about  their  advance- 
ment in  this  world.  But  be  you  anxious  concerning 
that,  which  our  Lord  pointed  out :  '  Mary  hath  chosen 
that  good  part,  which  shall  never  be  taken  away  from 
her.' 

My  dear  hearers,  I  conclude  with  this  observation  : 
what  is  interesting  truth  with  respect  to  children,  is 
interesting  truth  to  us  all.  Their  bodies  need  food, 
and  raiment,  and  care ;  but  may  not  instruction  to 


TO  CHILDREN  AND  PARENTS. 


107 

— .  ■> 


their  souls  be  compared  to  food,  and  raiment,  and 
medicine  for  their  bodies  ?  Their  souls  must  have 
the  Bread  of  Life,  the  Water  of  Life,  and  the  Medi- 
cines of  the  Gospel — or  perish  for  ever!  They  need 
these  to  strengthen  them ;  to  enable  them  to  arise, 
and  travel  through  this  wilderness  world,  in  their  wa} 
to  a  better. 

I  pray  God,  therefore,  that  whatever  I  have  been 
saying  to  the  children,  both  parents  and  children  may 
so  take  hold  of,  as  to  take  hold  of  knowledge,  and  td 
keep  it  fast,  and  to  take  care  of  it  as  that  which  con- 
tains eternal  life  and  every  blessing.  May  the  Holy 
Spirit  apply  these  truths  to  all  our  hearts  I  Amen. 


SERMON  XI. 


ADVANTAGES  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  MOURNl.NG. 

ECCLESIASTES.  VII,  2. 

It  is  better  to  go  to  the  House  of  Mourning,  than  to  go  to  the  Houit 
of  Feasting. 

Nothing  seems  more  contradictory  to  the  general 
sentiments  of  mankind,  than  this  declaration  of  the 
Wise  Man.    I  shall,  therefore, 

1.  State  the  sense  of  the  words. 

2.  Illustrate  the  fact. 

I.  With  respect  to  the  SENSE,  it  seems  sufficientlv 
obvious. 

It  is  better,"  as  one  expresses  it.  "  to  go  to  a 
funeral,  than  to  a  festival."  A  man  may  lawfully  do 
both :  he  may  glorify  God.  as  Christ  did.  in  going  to 
both  :  Christ  went  to  the  marriajie  festival  at  Cana ; 
and  he  went  to  the  grave  m  Bethany,  and  groaned 
and  wept  there. 

The  House  of  Mourning  is  to  be  considered,  how- 
ever, as  a  very  distinct  thing  from  any  sort  of  monk- 
ish austerity.  Men  are  not  taught  of  God  to  be 
ingenious  in  tormenting  themselves ;  nor  to  be  volun- 
teers in  humility,  as  the  Apostle  expresses  it.  The  AVise 
Man  here  speaks  of  any  dispensation  of  affliction, 
which  God  has  set  before  us  in  his  providence ;  "  There 
is  a  time  to  weep.'  and  to  meet  an  afflictive  dispensa- 
tion ;  and.  instead  of  wishing  to  avoid  such  dispensa- 
tion by  sinful  methods,  the  Wise  Man  tells  us  in  the 
text,  that  •  It  is  better  to  go  to  the  House  of  Mourn- 
ing, than  to  the  House  of  Feasting.' 


THE  HOUSE  OF  MOURNING.  109 


Those  persons,  therefore,  of  whom  Isaiah  speaks, 
in  his  tifty-sixth  chapter,  who  say,  '  Come  ye,  1  will 
fetch  wine ;  and  we  will  till  ourselves  with  strong 
drink  ;  and  to-morrow  shall  be  as  this  day,  and  much 
more  abundant' — these  men  have  wholly  mtstakeu  the 
matter :  it  would  be  better,  far  better,  to  ^o  to  a  scene 
of  trial  and  affliction,  than  to  let  themselves  loose, 
like  brute  beasts,  to  the  gratification  of  their  passions, 

n.  Let  us  endeavour  to  ILLUSTRATE  THE 
TEXT. 

I  shall  do  this,  by  showing  you,  that  the  House  of 
Mourning  is  better  than  the  House  of  Feasting  in 
these  Four  respects  :  as 

1.  It  gives  BETTER  LESSONS: 

2.  Supplies  BETTER  company: 

3.  Yields  better  comforts  :  and 

4.  Promises  a  better  end. 

1.  There  are  better  lessons  afforded  in  the 
House  of  Mourning,  than  in  the  House  of  Feasting. 

The  Wise  Man  say^,  at  the  12th  verse  of  this  chap- 
ter, that  '  Wisdom  is  a  defence' — '  It  is  better  to  go  to 
the  House  of  Mourning,  than  to  the  House  of  Feast- 
ing :  for  that  is  the  end  of  all  men,  and  the  living  will 
lay  it  to  his  heart.'  There  is  not  a  better  lesson.  It 
points  to  the  end  of  man.  If  any  thing  will  set  him 
on  thinking,  it  is,  that  this  is  what  all  must  expect : 
every  man  must  arrive  at  it.  This  house  seals,  there- 
fore, on  man's  heart  a  most  important  fact,  if  he  pos- 
sesses any  feeling. 

There  is  not  a  person  present,  perhaps,  who  has  not. 
in  his  youth,  adopted  the  contrary  sentiment.  We  all 
know,  who  have  ourselves  been  desirous  of  going  to 
the  House  of  Feasting,  that  the  very  tendency  and 
design  of  it  is  to  make  us  forget  every  thing  that  we 
ought  to  remember  and  inculcute  upon  the  mind. 
The  House  of  Mourning  is  wholly  the  reverse  in  its 
tendency  :  if  the  man  is  sober  at  all,  he  is  sober  there  : 
lif  must  he  far  gone  indeed,  if  hr  does  not  think  then  I 


llO  SERMON  XI. 


Thoughtless  mao  builds  a  house,  and  consecrates  it 
expressly  to  madness,  folly,  trifling,  intemperance,  and 
profaneness.  Bat  God  mercifully  provides  another 
house,  to  bring  him  l>ack  to  recollection,  by  showing 
him  the  end  of  man  :  and  thus,  as  the  Wise  Man  says 
in  the  3d  verse,  "  Sorrow  is  better  than  laughter :  for, 
by  the  sadness  of  the  countenance,  the  heart  is  made 
better.' 

It  is  a  great  thing.  Brethren  to  induce  men  to  think 
at  all.  Men  talk  of  thinking ;  but  very  few  think  seri- 
ously :  you  rarely  meet  a  man  that  has  a  recollected 
mind,  who  thinks  to  any  purpose,  and  asks,  '  What 
shall  I  do  in  the  end  thereof?'  You  can  have  made  no 
observation  on  life,  if  you  have  not  remarked  this.  It 
is  the  grand  plan,  of  what  I  may  call  the  ordinances  of 
our  Great  Enemy, — the  House  of  Festivity, — to  de- 
stroy all  recollection :  but  the  House  of  Mourning 
seems,  among  other  objects,  to  be  designed  of  God  to 
bring  men  to  thou:jhtfulness. 

There  are.  therefore,  better  lessons  to  be  learned  in 
the  House  of  Mourning,  than  in  the  House  of  Mirth. 

2.    It  has  BETTER  COMPANY. 

'  The  heart  of  the  wise  is  in  the  House  of  Mourn- 
ing, but  the  heart  of  fools  is  in  the  House  of  Mirth.' 
Now  as  far  as  a  Wise  Man  is  preferable  to  a  fool,  so 
far  is  it  better  to  go  to  the  House  of  Mourning,  than  to 
the  House  of  Feasting. 

I  know  not  a  worse  abuse  of  a  term,  than  that  of 
the  •■  best  company."  Such  a  one  "  keeps  the  best 
company  :"  that  is.  the  most  fashionable  people ;  per- 
sons best  acquainted  with  the  sciences,  and  talk,  and 
maxims  of  the  day — who  value  themselves  highly  on 
such  trifling,  silly,  em:)ty  accomplishments — and,  be- 
cause they  are  loquacious  and  know  the  small-talk  of 
the  day,  they  are  called  by  others  the  "  best  company !" 
A  thinking  man.  who  endeavours  to  weigh  things  a? 
they  are,  will  generally  call  them  almost  the  worst 
company  he  can  meet ;  for  were  he  to  spend  years  in 


THE  HOUSE  OF  MOURNING. 


Ill 


their  society,  would  he  be  the  wiser  ? — would  he  be 
the  better  ? — would  he  be  improving  in  virtue,  niuch 
less  in  religion — in  the  care  of  the  soul — in  the 
knowledge  of  God — in  faith  in  Christ  ?  I  protest, 
therefore,  against  this  abuse  of  the  term. 

I  said  that  the  House  of  Mourning  has  better 
company. 

In  this  house  men  are  so  taught  to  tliink,  and  to  lay 
things  to  heart,  that  even  foolish  and  trifling  men  seem 
at  least  to  have  a  wisdom  there  which  does  not  belong 
to  them. 

But  here  are  the  redeemed  of  the  Lord  :— men  pre- 
pared for  any  dispensation  which  God  is  pleased  to 
afford — learning  and  studying  his  will,  and  asking 
what  he  would  have  them  to  do.  And  it  is  not  a  small 
part  of  the  happiness  of  these  men,  that  they  are  de- 
livered from  that  which,  is  the  plague  of  the  wise — I 
mean,  Custom. 

Here  are  found,  also,  "  the  glorious  company  of  the 
Apostles,  the  goodly  fellowship  of  the  Prophets,  and 
the  noble  army  of  Martyrs." 

There  Christ  himself  was  found — the  man  of  sor- 
rows !  This  is  the  way  to  his  table,  and  to  his  friends 
above. 

My  dear  hearers,  if  you  have  found  a  friend,  a  real 
friend,  thank  God  that  he  has  raised  up  such  an  one  to 
take  care  for  your  soul,  to  take  pains  with  you,  to  set 
before  you  the  falsehoods  of  life,  the  cheats  and  impo- 
sitions continually  put  on  men.  Thank  God,  if  ho 
has  raised  up  such  an  one,  that  will  take  you  by  the 
hand,  and  say,  "  Let  us  go  and  serve  the  Lord :  and, 
if  he  call  to  the  House  of  Sorrow,  let  it  be  the  House 
of  Wisdom." 

3.  The  House  of  Mourning  has  bettkr  comforts. 

'Y\\\-i  would  be  an  inexplicable  paradox  to  many — 
•■  Comforts  in  the  House  of  Mourning  !  there  may  be 
Lessons  of  Instruction  ; — but  what  do  you  mean  by 
Comforts  ?"  Brethren!  there  is  bread  to  cat  in  that 


112 


SERMON  XI. 


house,  which  the  world  knows  not  of.  '  Thanks  be 
unto  God,'  says  the  Apostle,  'who  always  causeth  us 
to  triumph  in  Christ not  only  in  the  da}  of  pros- 
perity, but  in  the  day  of  adversity.  His  friends  have 
"  songs  in  the  house  of  their  pilgrimage.'  The  drunk- 
ard, in  his  intoxication,  may  raise  a  midnight  song : 
but  who  will  compare  his  joys  with  the  exultation  of 
that  song  which  was  raised  by  Paul  and  Silas  at  mid- 
night in  a  dungeon 

You  have  the  true  description  of  those  joys  which 
are  found  in  the  House  of  Mirth,  at  the  6th  verse  of 
this  chapter:  "For.  as  the  crackling  of  thorns  under 
a  pot,  so  is  the  laughter  of  the  fool.'  The  joy  of  the 
House  of  Feasting  is  like  "  the  crackling  of  thorns' — a 
blaze!  a  momentary  blaze !  leaving  the  man  in  dark- 
ness— vexed  and  chagrined — and  frequently  driven  to 
commit  suicide,  in  order  to  escape  present  disappoint- 
ment and  perplexity  ! 

1Vhat  is  Comfort  ? — not  the  intoxicating  song  of  the 
the  drunkard  I — not  the  foolish  talk  of  the  trifler  ! — not 
the  nonsense  of  the  man  who  for  amusement  displays 
his  wit,  or  rather  his  folly  !  Vt  hat  is  Comfort  ?  It  is  a 
serious  satisfaction — something  sedative — something 
well-grounded — something  that  will  administer  conso- 
lation on  a  death-bed ;  that  wiil  bear  up  a  man.  and 
enable  him  to  cry,  "  O  Death !  where  is  thy  sting  ?  O 
Grave  !  where  is  thy  victory 

Can  you  tell  me  of  any  thing  of  this  sort  in  the 
House  of  Feasting !  If  there  is  nothing  else  in  the 
House  of  Mourning  to  comfort  us.  there  is  the  voice 
of  our  Master — the  voice  of  faithfulness,  power,  and 
love,  to  accomplish  what  he  has  said  :  "  Blessed  are 
they  that  mourn  :  for  they  shall  be  comforted.'  Here 
is  the  Comforter  himself — a  comforter  that  the  world 
cannot  give,  nor  take  away. 

4.  A  BETTER  EXD  awaits  us  in  the  House  of 
Mourning. 

It  was  the  advice  of  the  Wise  Man, '  Whatsoever 


THE  HOUSE  OF  MOURNING. 


113 


thou  puttest  thy  hand  unto,  look  to  the  end,  and  thou 
wilt  not  do  amiss.'  Here  you  may  look  to  the  end  : 
you  may  ask  your  heart  seriously,  "  What  is  the  end 
of  all  this  /  For  what  purpose  does  God  bring  me  this 
way  ?  Why  ? — It  is  the  way  by  which  he  leads  his 
children,  and  he  is  leading  them  to  a  kingdom,  and 
this  is  the  path  to  that  kingdom.  I  have  not,  indeed, 
what  he  had  who  'was  clothed  in  purple  and  fine  linen, 
and  fared  sumptuously  every  day  :'  yet,  blessed  be 
God.  I  have  not  the  distresses  of  Lazarus,  nor  am  I 
fed  with  his  crumbs  :  but,  if  I  must  set  my  foot  in  one 
of  these  two  paths,  when  I  look  to  the  end  thereof  it 
does  not  require  a  moment's  hesitation  to  decide  be- 
tween them.  Let  me  be  Lazarus  :  let  me  see  Abra- 
ham's bosom,  by  faith  ;  and  wait  God's  time  in  God's 
way." 

I  have  seen  enough  of  life,  and  felt  enough  to  know 
how  painful  it  is  to  speak  plainly  to  the  young  and  gay; 
but  shall  w  e  say  to  them  that  the  end  of  these  things 
is  not  death  ? — that  the  House  of  Feasting  may  proba- 
bly end  as  well  as  the  House  of  Affliction — of  repent- 
ance— of  faith,  and  hope,  and  love  ?  Dare  we  say  this  ? 
Shall  we  not  rather  declare,  plainly  and  expressly, 
■  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  Rejoice,  O  young  man,  in  th} 
youth  :  and  let  thy  heart  cheer  thee  in  the  days  of  thy 
youth  :' — go  to  the  House  of  Feasting :  call  your  father 
a  fool :  say  that  religion  is  the  language  of  the  nursery: 
adopt  the  maxims  of  a  set  of  mad  companions  :  laugh 
at  every  thing  serious  :  goon — but,  God  says,  in  an- 
swer to  all  this, '  Know  thou  that  for  all  these  things, 
God  will  bring  thee  into  judgment.'  Know,  young 
woman,  that,  with  all  the  admiration  thou  wilt  attain, 
God  has  said,  that '  She  that  liveth  in  pleasure,  is  dead 
while  she  liveth.' 

In  passing  through  such  paths,  therefore,  as  God  has 
set  before  us,  either  in  the  dispensations  of  his  Provi- 
dence or  in  his  Word,  and  in  waiting  on  a  faithful  God 
for  the  fulfilment  of  his  promises,  we  shall  have  a  bet- 

VOL.   H.  11 


114 


ter  conclusion  in  going  to  the  House  of  Mourning  than 
to  the  House  of  Mirth. 

I  speak  more  particular!}^  to  young  persons  on  this 
point,  because,  of  all  people,  they  seem  least  acquaint- 
ed \A"ith  it.  I  would  say  to  such,  Fear  not  this  doc- 
trine :  Fear  not  the  truth  of  God.  It  will  always  do 
you  good  :  you  will  be  ruined  in  opposing  or  neglect- 
ing it.  Be  hot,  therefore,  afraid  of  the  truth.  A  poor 
lunatic,  in  the  midst  of  his  ^aietv  and  vanitv,  if  his 
physician  should  offer  him  a  bitter  medicine,  might 
hate  the  man  because  he  brought  the  medicine,  and 
the  medicine  because  it  was  bitter  and  would  spoil  his 
sport,  while  its  tendency  was  to  enable  him  to  enjoy 
life  and  perfect  rationalit)' — Such  is  the  man  who 
hates  truth  or  its  teachers !  All  that  you  can  possibly 
wish  for  or  imagine  here,  how  many  thousands  have 
attained  !  And  where  are  they  now  ? — they  have  pass- 
ed, in  a  long  procession,  one  after  another,  down  to 
the  grave.  Follow  the  bier  of  any  one  of  them  :  the 
corpse  would  shock  you — it  is  covered  up — hid  from 
your  eyes — put  into  the  ground — soon  forgotten — and. 
now,  where  is  all  that  House  of  Mirth  in  which  th( 
man  once  shone,  and  was  amused,  and  was  admired  b) 
others,  and  most  of  all  by  himself  ?  While  you  see 
this  most  evidently  before  your  eyes,  remember  that 
this  is  no  mystical  doctrine,  no  difficult  controvemal 
point,  but  the  history  of  every  day. 

Let  us  take  heed,  then,  whatever  else  we  forget, 
that  we  do  not  forget  the  remedy  which  God  has  set 
before  our  eyes.  You  have  heard  many  a  sermon 
from  a  weak  man,  like  yourselves — a  man  of  like  pas- 
sions with  you  :  but,  perhaps,  your  own  family  God 
has  made  a  House  of  Mourning:  he  brings  home 
what  you  have  heard  :  he  sets  it  before  your  eyes,  and 
wrings  your  feelings  v.ith  it :  and  are  you  as  vain  and 
trifling  now,  as  if  he  had  not  taken  pains  with  you  ? 
Is  all  this  care  thrown  away  Do  you  need  another 
stroke?    I  assure  you.  that  though,  as  ministers,  wr 


THE  HOUSE  OF  MOURNING. 


115 


cannot  avoid  feeling  sympathy  with  those  who  have 
lost  a  friend  or  relative ;  yet  a  preacher  cannot  but 
recollect  that  this  is  the  sound  of  his  Master's  feet  be- 
hind him  :  and,  while  he  laments  your  sufferings,  he 
knows  that  his  admonitions  would  have  little  effect  in 
many  cases,  were  not  truth  brought  home  thus  pain- 
fully to  your  business  and  bosom. 

Again,  it  is  better  to  go  to  the  House  of  Mourning 
than  to  the  House  of  Feasting,  because  however  dark 
the  house  may  be;  though  it  may  resemble  a  prison 
with  its  bars,  so  that  a  man  may  be  ready  to  say,  '  I 
am  shut  up ;  I  cannot  get  forth :'  yet  there  is  no 
House  of  Mourning  but  what  admits  a  ray  of  the  sun. 
and  that  beam  is  a  beam  of  immortality.  Christ  says 
to  the  inhabitants  of  the  House  of  Mourning,  "•  Look 
out!  Is  thy  consolation  small  ?  Is  thy  prospect  to  be 
despised  ?  Is  there  nothing  to  be  said  in  this  case,  that 
may  rouse  thy  attention,  comfort  thy  heart,  and  excite 
a  hope  full  of  immortality,  when  this  vision  of  the  mo- 
ment is  gone  ?" — and  how  soon  will  it  be  gone  with 
every  one  of  us ! 

There  is  not  a  house  in  which  any  one  of  you  lives, 
which  will  not  soon  be  a  House  of  Mourning  on  his 
account.  "  He  is  dead  !" — He  hath  been  dead  these 
four  days ."' — "  My  father  is  dead  !" — "  My  mother  is 
dead!" — "  The  desire  of  my  eyes  is  taken  away  at  a 
stroke! — My  dear  child  is  gone!" 

Remember,  then,  that,  in  that  house,  whatever  is 
gone,  one  thing  is  left — the  promise  of  a  faithful  God  : 
'  I  am  the  resurrection  and  the  life  :  he,  that  believeth 
in  me,  shall  never  die.'  There  is  a  one  thing  needful : 
a  better  part :  a  voice  of  instruction,  at  that  very  time 
saying  to  you,  "  Take  hold  of  my  hand,  as  you  de- 
scend to  the  grave  :  hold  fast  my  hand,  as  your  refuge 
set  before  you.  Pray  to  God  with  David,  '  Remem- 
ber me  with  the  favour  which  thou  bearest  to  thy  peo- 
ple: visit  me  with  thy  salvation  :  that  1  may  see  the 
good^of  thy  chosen;  that  I  may  rejoice  in  the  glad 


116 


SER.MOX  XI. 


ness  of  thy  nation ;  that  I  may  glory  with  thine  in- 
heritance. Remember  the  word  unto  tby  servant,  on 
which  thou  hast  caused  me  to  hope." 

Whatever  remedies  others  may  propose  on  this  oc- 
casion, there  is  no  effectual  remedy  but  the  Gospel. 
Imagination  even  cannot  suppose  comfort  in  death,  but 
from  the  voice  of  God  calling  to  look  forward  to  im- 
mortality and  securit)-.  Let  us,  therefore,  while  in 
the  House  of  Mourning,  not  lose  the  grand  truth 
which  is  so  strongly  set  forth  in  it — "  I  am  the  resur- 
rection and  the  life :  he  that  believeth  in  me,  though 
he  were  dead  yet  shall  he  live  ;  and  he,  that  liveth  and 
beheveth  in  me,  shall  never  die.'  That  you  and  I 
may  take  firm  hold  of  that  privilege,  may  God  grant, 
for  Jesus  Christ's  sake! 


SERMON  XII. 


THE  VANITY  OF  HUMAN  IMAGINATIONS. 

Jeremiah,  xxiii,  28,  29. 

I'lic  prophet,  that  hath  a  dream,  let  him  tell  a  dream ;  and  he,  thai 
hath  my  word,  let  him  speak  my  word  faithfully  :  what  is  the  chafl 
to  the  wheat?  saith  the  Lord.  Is  not  my  word  like  as  a  fire saith 
the  Lord :  and  like  a  hammer,  that  breaketh  the  rock  in  pieces  ? 

Error  consists  in  following  the  reveries  of  human 
imagination,  instead  of  the  plain  dictates  of  the  Word 
of  God.  '  This  is  the  condemnation,  that  hght  is- 
come  into  the  world,  but  men  loved  darkness  rather 
than  light:'  it  suits  their  natural  concupiscence:  this 
therefore  is  the  condemnation,  the  root  of  their  er- 
rors both  of  heart  and  head,  that  they  lean  to  their 
human  understandings  and  inclinations,  instead  of  the 
plain  directions  given  them  in  God's  Word. 

Against  this  we  find  the  Prophet  entering  a  solemn 
protest.  'My  heart  within  me,'  says  he,  'is  broken, 
because  of  the  prophets  :  all  my  bones  shake  :  I  am 
like  a  drunken  man,  and  like  a  man  whom  wine  hath 
overcome  ;  because  of  the  Lord,  and  because  of  the 
words  of  his  holiness.  They  say  still  unto  them  that 
despise  me,  The  Lord  hath  said,  Ye  shall  have  peace  : 
and  they  say  unto  every  one  that  walketh  after  the 
imagination  of  his  own  heart,  No  evil  shall  come  upon 
you — I  have  heard  what  the  prophets  said,  that  pro- 
phesy lies  in  my  name,  saying  I  have  dreamed,  I  have 
dreamed.  How  long  shall  this  be  in  the  heart  of  the 
prophets,  that  prophesy  lies  ?  which  think  to  cause 
my  people  to  forget  my  name,  by  their  dreams  which 
they  tell  every  man  to  his  neighbour — The  prophet. 

VOT..  TT.  11* 


118 


SERMON  MI. 


that  hath  a  dream,  let  him  tell  a  dream :'  if  these 
men  have  dreamed,  something  in  their  own  minds  that 
God  hath  laid  no  foundation,  let  them  tell  it  as  a 
dream  :  it  is  but  a  dream  :  but  let  them  not  call  it  the 
Word  of  God :  let  them  not  lay  it  down  as  a  founda- 
tion of  truth !  such  a  prophet  as  has  thus  dreamed, 
let  him  tell  his  dream  :  but  let  him  tell  it  as  a  dream. 
But  '  he,  that  hath  my  word,  let  him  speak  my  word 
faithfully :'  let  him  simply  deliver  my  message  :  nei- 
ther adding  to  it,  nor  detracting  from  it :  '  let  him 
speak  my  word  faithfully  :  for  what  is  the  chaff  to  the 
wheat  ?  saith  the  Lord :'  the  dreams  of  these  false 
prophets  are  but  chaff  at  the  best;  and  what  is  all 
this  chaff  to  the  purpose  ?  it  is  not  to  be  compared  to 
the  wheat,  which  is  solid,  substantial,  and  nourishing : 

•  what  is  the  chafT  to  the  wheat  ?  saith  the  Lord  :'  for 

•  Is  not  my  word  like  as  a  fire  ?  saith  the  Lord  :  and 
like  a  hammer,  that  breaketh  the  rock  in  pieces  ?'  Is 
it  not  efficient  ?  Will  it  not  accomplish  that  for  which 
I  sent  it  ? 

This  passage  discovers,  therefore,  to  us, 

1.  The  VANITY  OF  ALL  HUMAN  IMAGINATIONS  IN 
RELIGION. 

2.  The  ENERGY   OF   SCRIPTURAL  TRUTH. 

I.  Let  us  consider  the  VANITY  OF  ALL  HU- 
MAN IMAGINATIONS  IN  RELIGION. 

If  a  man  has  a  dream,  let  him  tell  it  as  a  dream  : 
but  let  him  not  bring  it  forward  as  any  foundation  for 
faith  and  practice. 

In  considering  this  subject,  we  are  to  reflect  that 
man  is  an  active  being:  he  must  be  employed:  but. 
however  active  he  may  be,  if,  in  setting  forward  in  a 
project,  he  neglect  some  given  standard,  to  which 
that  project  should  be  brought  to  try  its  truth  and 
validity,  if  he  proceed,  leaning  to  his  imagination  and 
his  own  understanding;  he  resembles  a  traveller,  who 
sets  out  perhaps  with  great  energy,  and  travels  at  a 
vast  rate  :  but.  so  far  is  he  from  coming  to  his  point. 


THE  VANITV  OF  HUMAN  IMAGINATIONS.      1 1  9 


that,  the  faster  he  travels,  the  more  he  deviates  from 
the  path  which  he  should  have  pursued  :  he  is  wholly 
wrong  ;  and,  therefore,  the  rate  of  his  travelling  onl) 
leads  him  faster  and  further  into  error.  In  religion,  a 
man  may  be  evei-  learning,  and  yet  never  able  to  come 
to  the  real  knowledge  of  the  truth;  because,  like  thf 
traveller,  he  takes  the  wrong  road. 

Look  at  the  deplorable  state  of  the  Heathen  World : 
yet  they  have  had  great  lights;  men  of  astonishing 
genius  and  perseverance.  But  where  are  they  ?  You 
can  see  very  little  more  in  the  Heathen  World,  so  far 
as  it  respects  moral  considerations  in  religion,  than 
dreams  of  vanity  and  vice.  I  have  dreamed  :  I  have 
dreamed :  but  what  is  all  this  chaff  to  the  wheat  ! 

And,  even  under  Divine  Revelation — when  God 
has  spoken — look  at  the  state  of  the  Antediluvians, 
when  God  saw  the  earth  covered  with  wickedness 
and  idolatry.  Look  at  the  state  of  the  Jews,  after 
-uch  wonders  and  signal  deliverances : — images  wor- 
-hipped  as  their  gods !  Look  at  the  state  of  Christian- 
ity, over  a  great  part  of  the  earth  :  what  superstition ! 
what  tyranny  over  conscience  !  what  gross  imposi- 
tion on  mankind  !  And  even  look  into  the  Protestant 
World — where  we  profess  to  rid  ourselves  of  these 
evils — what  divisions,  and  unscriptural  notions ! 

And  what  is  all  this  ? — It  shows  the  vanity  of  human 
imaginations :  the  evil  of  setting  up  some  fancy  and 
idol,  instead  of  simply  following  God's  word  :  the  folly 
of  a  man  saying,  as  if  he  was  fond  of  his  reveries,  1 
have  dreamed:  I  have  dreamed. 

But,  when  we  reflect  on  the  vanity  of  human  ima- 
i^inations  in  religion,  we  should  consider  two  things  : 

1.  Let  us  ask,  what  do  all  these  afford  to 

MAN  ? 

There  are  certain  grand  questions  which  a  man  has 
to  ask  ;  and  he  lies  in  darkness  and  sleeps  the  sleep  of 
death,  till  he  does  actually  ask  these  questions,  and 
that  very  seriously.    He  should  first  inquire  into  his 


120 


SERMON  Xll. 


fallen  state,  as  having  departed  from  the  living  God. 
by  an  awful  alienation  of  heart  and  apostacy.  He 
should  inquire  as  to  any  remedy,  which  God  hath  ap- 
pointed in  this  case :  where  there  is  any  constitution 
or  appointment,  that  God  hath  made  in  order  to  a  lost 
sinner's  returning  to  him  and  being  saved.  He  should 
consider,  therefore,  the  great  question  respecting  his 
recovery  ;  and  then  he  will  find  that  Jesus  Christ  is 
the  grand  answer  to  these  questions :  that  •  there  is 
no  name  given  under  heaven  whereby  a  man  can  be 
saved,  but  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ :'  the  merit  of 
Christ's  suflTering  for  sin,  and  the  Spirit  of  Christ  giving 
Ufe  to  a  sinner.  This  is  the  grand  answer  to  all  seri- 
ous inquiry,  as  to  the  welfare  of  man. 

Now  his  dreams  aflTord  nothing  good  on  these  points. 
They  may  put  a  man  on  a  thousand  superstitious  prac- 
tices, and  may  lead  him  to  great  corporal  austerity  : 
but  what  do  they  afford  as  to  a  satisfactory  answer  to 
the  grand  question  ? 

2.  The  second  thing  wc  should  consider,  as  to  tlic 
A  anity  of  human  imaginations  in  religion,  is  not  only 
as  to  what  they  atford  men,  that  is  nothing,  but  we 
should  consider  how  much  they  hinder  axd  im- 
pede. 

To  illustrate  what  I  mean.  It  is  in  vain  to  talk  of 
the  Old  World  :  or  the  state  of  the  Heathens,  and 
Jews,  and  Papists.  Bring  the  subject  to  our  present 
condition.  It  pleases  God  to  appoint  the  preaching  of 
the  Gospel  in  a  neighbourhood ;  that  is.  he  opens  a 
spring  of  life  in  a  dry  and  barren  place.  But  one  man 
cannot  attend,  though  he  Uves  in  the  neighbourhood  : 
and  why  ?  he  leans  to  his  imaginations  :  he  has  dream- 
ed !  he  has  dreamed  I  he  is  a  Socinian.  and  cannot 
bear  the  doctrines  taught  in  the  Church  of  England. 
Another  is  a  philosopher  truly!  he  has  turned  his 
thoughts  to  the  reason  and  fitness  of  things  :  and  can- 
not attend  to  the  plain  and  simple  preaching  of  God's 
word,  which  calls  him  to  lay  down  all  imaginations. 


THE  VANITY  OF  HUMAN  IMAGINATIONS. 


121 


and  reasonings,  and  be  taught  by  his  Great  Parent,, 
what  is  that  rehgion  which  is  acceptable  to  himself. 

Consider,  therefore,  how  much  these  imaginations 
stand  in  a  man's  way,  and  become  stumbling-blocks  to 
him. 

And  there  is,  besides,  a  perverse  inference  often 
drawn  from  these  facts  : — that  because  men  have 
sought  out  many  inventions,  and  followed  the  vanity  of 
their  own  and  others'  imaginations,  therefore  there 
is  no  truth  in  the  Bible !  Yet,  remember,  however  men 
have  entertained  him,  that '  God  who  at  sundry  times 
and  in  divers  manners,  spake  in  time  past  unto  the 
fathers  by  the  prophets,  hath,  in  these  last  days  spoken 
unto  us'  most  plainly,  expressly,  powerfully  and  affect- 
ingly  '  by  his  Son.' 

II.  Having  seen  the  vanity  of  all  human  imagina- 
tions in  religion,  let  us  consider,  secondly,  the  ENER- 
GY OF  SCRIPTURAL  TRUTH. 

This  is  most  strikingly  declared  in  the  text.  '  Is  not 
my  word  Uke  as  a  fire  ?  saith  the  Lord :  and  like  a 
hammer  that  breaketh  the  rock  in  pieces  ?'  Who  then 
will  sit  down  in  despair  ?  Or  who  will  set  the  Almighty 
at  defiance,  as  if  he  could  not  execute  his  purposes  ? 

Turn  your  attention,  brethren,  to  the  characters 
which  I  have  just  mentioned,  as  being  led  astray  by  the 
vanity  of  human  imaginations  :  you  will  see  the  state 
of  even  these  men,  when  scriptural  truth  prevailed 
among  them.  How  did  some  of  the  Antediluvians 
walk  with  God,  like  Enoch!  how  did  they  follow  him, 
like  Abraham— not  knowing  whither  they  went !  The 
same  may  be  said  of  the  Jews  :  when  they  hearkened 
to  the  Lord  their  God,  and  turned  aside  from  their 
idols,  how  did  one  put  a  thousand  to  flight !  how  did 
the  Lord  go  before  them,  opening  their  way !  Take 
the  Church  of  Rome  : — what  a  glorious  Church  was 
the  Church  of  Rome, — but  when  ? — when  it  followed 
human  imaginations  in  religion  ?  no  !  it  was  a  glorious 
ChurcJi,  wheti  the  Apostle  Avrotc  his  Epistle  to  lh(. 


122 


SERMON  Xli. 


Romans  :  its  faith  sounded  throughout  the  world.  Thus 
was  it,  too,  among  Protestants,  when  they  first  separa- 
ted from  the  superstition  of  Rome,  and  followed  the 
ord  of  God,  instead  of  human  imaginations :  in 
purity  and  zeal  they  walked  with  God  and  glorified 
him  on  the  earth  :  they  triumphed,  not  in  their  lives 
only,  but  in  their  deaths  at  the  stake  :  but  see  them 
following  vain  imaginations,  and.  however  they  might 
reflect  on  the  Papists'  superstition,  the  Papists  might 
pity  them  for  denying  the  only  Lord  God  who  bought 
them. 

When  you  see  these  men,  therefore,  under  the  influ- 
ence and  dominion  of  the  word  of  God,  and  trace  the 
effect  of  it  on  their  hearts,  how  does  it  prove  the  truth 
of  this  passage — '  Is  not  my  word  like  as  a  fire  ?'  Is  it 
not  '  like  a  hammer,  that  breaketh  the  rock  in  pieces  V 

'  The  kingdom  of  God,'  says  our  Lord,  '  is  like  a 
grain  of  mustard  seed  :' — too  minute  almost  for  per- 
ception :  but  let  the  seed  be  sown  in  the  heart,  and 
watered  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  while  the  Sun  of  Righte- 
ousness shines  upon  it.  and  it  shall  grow  up  into  a  great 
tree,  though  invisible  in  its  progress. 

'  My  thoughts,'  God  says  by  the  prophet  Isaiah. 
'  are  not  as  your  thoughts :  for  as  the  heavens  are 
liigher  than  the  earth,  so  are  my  ways  higher  than 
your  ways,  and  my  thoughts  higher  than  your 
thoughts  :  for  as  the  rain  cometh  down,  and  the  snow 
from  heaven,  and  returneth  not  thither,  but  watereth 
the  earth,  and  maketh  it  bring  forth  and  bud,  that  it 
may  give  seed  to  the  sower  and  bread  to  the  eater :  so 
shall  my  word  be,  that  goeth  forth  out  of  my  mouth : 
it  shall  not  return  unto  me  void ;  but  it  shall  accom- 
plish that  which  I  please,  and  it  shall  prosper  in  the 
thing  whereto  I  sent  it.  What  is  the  chaff  to  the 
wheat  ?' — the  wheat  shall  be  found  to  be  substantial 
and  nourishing:  the  fire  shall  penetrate,  burn  up  the 
dross,  and  purify  the  gold :  the  hammer  shall  break 


THE  VANITY  OF  HUMAN  IMAGINATIONS.  123 


the  strong  rock  in  pieces,  and  '  shall  accomplish  tha< 
which  I  please.' 

Consult  facts,  to  ascertain  this  enei^y  of  divine 
truth. 

Look  into  the  second  chapter  of  the  Acts  of  the 
\postles  •,  the  Gospel  of  Truth,  preached  by  poor 
and  unlearned  men,  was  '  gladly  received :  and  the 
-ame  day  there  were  added  unto  them  about  three 
thousand  souls  !  And  they  continued  steadfastly  in  the 
Apostles'  doctrine,  and  fellowship,  and  in  breaking  of 
bread,  and  in  prayer.'  Turn,  also,  to  the  first  chapter 
of  the  Epistle  to  the  Ephesians :  there  you  will  see 
that  the  Word  of  God  is  nutritious,  like  wheat :  pene- 
trating and  purifying,  like  fire;  and  powerful  in  its 
operation,  like  the  stroke  of  a  hammer. — '  In  whom,' 
says  the  Apostle,  '  ye  trusted,  after  that  ye  heard  the 
word  of  truth,  the  gospel  of  your  salvation  :  in  whom 
also,  after  that  ye  believed,  ye  were  sealed  with  that 
Holy  Spirit  of  promise  :'  it  was  such  an  impression  as 
was  lasting.  So,  again,  in  the  First  Epistle  to  the 
Thessalonians  : — *  Our  gospel  came  not  unto  you  in 
word  only,  but  also  in  power,  and  in  the  Holy  Ghost, 
and  in  much  assurance.' 

Many  suppose  that  these  things  were  peculiar  to  the 
\postolic  times :  a  plain  proof  that  they  know  not 
the  true  History  of  the  Church,  in  every  age.  A 
man  has  seen  very  little  of  the  power  of  religion,  who 
has  not  seen  marvellous  consequences  result  even 
from  a  single  hint,  grounded  on  Scripture  ; — from  a 
simple  tract ; — from  a  very  feeble  instrument  speaking 
the  truth  of  God. 

I  will  venture  to  say  more.  Ever}-  true  Christian 
on  earth  is  a  witness  that  God's  word  is  substantial  and 
nourishing,  as  wheat ;  that  it  is  purifying  and  penetra- 
ting, like  fire  ;  and  that  it  has  come  as  with  the  stroke 
of  a  hammer,  to  break  the  hard  and-  rocky  heart- 
Such  an  one  need  not  to  be  told  the  distinction  be- 
tween chaff  and  wheat :  he  will  know  that  man's  ima- 


124 


SERMON  XII. 


ginations,  however  ingenious  and  learned,  are  not  tht 
means  of  converting  his  heart  to  God.  He  know< 
that  the  truth  of  God  has  tried  his  own  heart :  it  has 
penetrated  into  its  recesses  :  it  has  shown  him  his  own 
picture  :  it  has  softened  what  was  once  hard  and  un- 
impressible  :  it  has  purified  his  motives, — not  his  con- 
duct only,  for  that  may  sometimes  be  done  by  pride — 
but  it  has  purified  his  motives,  so  that  he  has  been  led 
to  say,  as  Joseph  said  on  another  occasion,  *  How 
shall  I  do  this  great  wickedness  and  sin  against  God  V 
It  has  at  length  converted  him.  and  '  turned  him  from 
darkness  to  light,  and  from  the  power  of  Satan  unto 
God.'  It  is  the  energy,  therefore,  that  accompanies 
the  word,  which  casts  down  imaginations,  and  reason- 
ings, and  the  strong-holds  of  sin  and  Satan  ;  producing 
subjection  to  Christ,  as  the  Prophet,  Priest,  and  King 
of  his  Church :  so  that  whether  such  an  one  has  been 
a  moral,  decent,  devotional  character,  like  Lydia ;  or 
ferocious,  like  the  Jailor ;  or  dissolute,  like  the  Corin- 
thians ;  or  self-righteous,  like  the  Pharisees  of  old : 
or  an  idolatrous  character,  like  the  ancient  Britons, 
from  whom  we  sprang, — he  has  evidence  in  his  own 
breast,  that  the  preaching  of  Christ  is  '  the  power  of 
God  to  the  salvation  of  every  one  that  believes.' 

An  objection  may  perhaps  arise  in  the  minds  of 
some  persons  :  "  If  God's  word  be  like  a  fire, — one  of 
the  most  powerful  agents  in  nature  ;  and  if  it  be  like 
a  hammer,  that  breaketh  even  the  rock  in  pieces  ;  and 
it  is  sent  forth  among  us ;  how  is  it,  that  many,  who 
live  under  the  express  teaching  of  the  word,  have  yet 
nothing  like  a  broken  heart,  under  this  powerful  ham- 
mer ?  how  is  it  that  they  are  living  in  a  state  of  impo- 
sition on  themselves ;  as  if  no  purifying,  penetrating 
fire  had  entered  their  hearts  ?  how  is  it  that  they  con- 
tinue to  dream,  continue  to  prefer  chafi'  to  the  wheat, 
or  at  least  are  careless  whether  it  be  chaff  or  wheat  / 
how  is  this  ?" 

T  will  answer  by  asking  another  question  : — Is  not  a 


THE  VANITY  OF  HUMAN  IMAGINATIONS.  125 


hammer  a  powerful  instrument?  Will  the  strongesf: 
rock  stand  before  the  stroke  of  the  hammer  ?  but  will 
the  throwing  of  the  hammer  upon  the  rock  do  any 
thing,  or  throwing  down  the  hammer  before  it?  "No," 
you  say,  "  certainly  not :  the  hammer  might  lie  for 
ever  on  the  rock,  or  lie  before  it,  ^  et  the  rock  would 
remain  unbroken,  for  the  hammer  needs  a  strong  hand : 
the  hammer  can  do  nothing  without  a  workman."  So 
is  it  with  the  Word  of  God  ?  So  far  is  the  fire  from 
penetrating  of  itself  the  heart,  or  the  hammer  from 
breaking  it  in  pieces,  that  the  Apostle  tells  us,  the 
preaching  of  the  Gospel  is,  in  some  instances  a  savour 
of  death  unto  death  :  when  the  Gospel  does  not  soften, 
it  is  sometimes  known  to  harden.  The  preaching  oj" 
Christ  himself  made  the  Pharisees  fret,  and  conspire 
to  put  him  to  death ! 

Brethren !  let  us  learn,  that,  as  God  must  spread 
our  table,  and  give  an  appetite  for  the  food,  and  ren- 
der it  nutritious  after  it  is  received,  so  must  it  be  with 
the  precious  Word  of  God.  The  Holy  Spirit  must 
not  only  kindle  the  fire,  but  he  must  apply  it  to  the 
heart :  the  hammer  must  not  only  be  in  his  hand,  bu( 
he  must  strike  with  it;  and  when  he  strikes  with  it, 
then  even  Legion  shall  come  and  sit  down  at  Christ't 
feet,  '  clothed,  and  in  his  right  mind  :' — then  Saul,  who 
'  breathed  out  threatenings  and  slaughter  against  the 
Church,'  shall,  under  the  operation  of  this  fire  and 
this  hammer,  be  sent  forth  making  use  of  the  same 
instruments:  declaring  that  he  can  do  all  things 
through  Christ  that  strengtheneth  him,  and  that  hie 
word  shall  be  the  power  of  God  to  the  salvation  of 
every  one  whom  the  Holy  Spirit  enables  to  believe. 
Thus  it  is  said  in  the  cxth  Psalm,  '  Thy  people  shall 
be  willing,' — When  ?  'in  the  day  of  thy  power.' 

Having  endeavoured  to  show  you  the  Vanity  of 
Human  Imaginations,  and  the  Energy  of  Scriptural 
Truth,  let  us  learn  to  form  a  just  estimate  oj' 

rHUTH  AND  ERROR. 

VOL.  n.  12 


126 


The  truth,  wherever  God  sends  it,  is  no  ordinarx 
blessing.  1  will  show  you  his  own  account  of  it,  in  a 
remarkable  passage  in  the  eighth  chapter  of  the  pro- 
phecy of  Amos  :  '  Behold,  the  days  come,  sailh  the 
Lord,  that  I  will  send  a  famine  in  the  land' — and. 
surely,  this  is  one  of  the  heaviest  afflictions  that  can 
be  sent  on  man  ! — "  not  a  famine  of  bread,  nor  a  thirst 
for  water,  but  of  hearing  the  words  of  the  Lord  :' — 
the  sorest  of  all  famines;  because  the  word  of  the 
Lord,  the  hammer,  the  fire,  is  the  grand  instrument  of 
God.  While  men  of  the  world  are  admiring  their 
books  of  science,  or  their  books  of  amusement,  God 
calls  all  this  chaff:  '  What  is  chaff  to  the  wheat,  saith 
the  Lord  /'  They  embrace  these  things  too  much  as 
their  portion  :  what  dreams  are  these  ?  '  Oh,  that  thou 
hadst  known,-  says  our  Lord,  weeping  over  Jerusa- 
lem, '  Oh,  that  thou  hadst  knou  n,  at  least  in  this  thy 
day,  the  things  that  belong  to  thy  peace!'  and  the 
things  that  belong  to  our  peace  may  be  summed  up 
in  the  saving  knowledge  of  Jesus  Christ;  what  he 
hath  done  for  us  in  reconciling  us  to  God,  and  what  he 
hath  promised  to  do  by  his  Spirit  in  our  hearts:  for 
'this,'  says  he.  'is  life  eternal,  that  they  might  know 
thee,  the  only  true  God,  and  Jesus  Christ  whom  thou 
hast  sent.' 

Let  us  entreat  God,  (licn,  that  oir  estimate  yiw 

CE  PRACTICAL. 

Let  us  learn,  first,  to  form  a  just  estimate  :  and  let 
us  then  entreat  God  that  it  may  be  a  practical  one. 

I  must  insist  on  this,  because  the  text  says,  '  He  that 
hath  my  word,  let  him  speak  my  word  faithfully.' 
How  many  are  going  in  the  broad  road  to  ruin,  with 
their  heads  filled  with  notions  of  truth !  How  many 
masters  charge  their  servants  to  go  and  hear  the  Gos- 
pel ;  and,  at  the  same  time,  set  them  an  example  of 
the  word  of  God  having  no  effect  on  the  heart !  How 
many  servants  seem  to  despise  those  above  them,  as 
(hough  they  did  not  know  the  truth  :  and.  at  the  same 


THE  VAiMTY  OF  HUMAN  IMAGLVATIONS.  127 


time,  bring  disgrace  thereon  by  their  idleness,  their 
evil  tempers,  and  even  dishonest  habits,  \hile  they 
profess  to  know  the  Gospel  of  Christ !  Let  us  pray, 
therefore,  that  our  estimate  of  the  Truth  may  be 
practical :  for — with  a  carnal  heart  and  a  gospel  head, 
we  should  fall  into  the  most  fatal  of  all  errors. 

Oh !  that  the  word  of  God  may  this  day  be  as 
wheat,  to  nourish;  as  fire,  to  penetrate  and  discover: 
and  as  the,  hammer,  to  break  the  rocky  heart  in  pieces ! 
Grant,  O  God,  that  this  word  may  not  be  a  "savour  of 
death  unto  death'  to  any !  Grant  that  what  is  spoken 
this  day  to  our  outward  ears,  may  be  written  upon 
every  one  of  our  hearts,  for  the  sake  of  Jesus  Christ 
our  I.ord.  Amen? 


SERMON  XIII. 


THE  FIERY  FURNACE. 

Daniel,  hi,  24,  25. 

Then  Nebuchadnezzar  the  King  was  astonished,  and  rose  up  in  haste, 
and  spake,  and  said  unto  his  Counsellors,  did  not  we  cast  three  men 
bound  into  the  midst  of  the  Fire?  They  answered  and  said  unto 
the  King,  True,  O  King.  He  answered,  and  said,  Lo  !  I  see  foui 
men,  loose,  walking  in  the  midst  of  the  Fire  ;  and  they  have  n(> 
hurt ;  and  the  form  of  the  fourth  is  like  the  Son  of  God. 

The  Book  of  God  abounds  in  wonders.  This  his- 
tory exhibits  one  of  them.  A  powerful  and  arbitrarj 
king  ordered  an  idol  to  be  set  up,  and  every  one  un- 
der his  authority  to  bow  down  to  that  idol.  But 
some  men  in  his  kingdom  would  not  bow  down. 
They  durst  not. 

There  is  something  in  the  resolution  of  a  ser- 
vant of  God,  which  may  appear  to  be  perverse- 
aess  and  obstinacy,  and  will  be  so  called  by  the 
world :  but  it  is  enough  if  he  knows  it  to  be  a  zeal 
for  God,  a  true  fear,  a  determination  not  to  go  beyond 
his  duty  :  he  may  then  safely  leave  all  possible  conse- 
quences with  God.  He,  who  would  not  bow  down, 
was  the  same  hour  to  be  cast  into  a  burning  fiery  fur- 
nace. Yet  there  wore  three  men  in  the  kingdom, 
who  would  endure  even  that  consequence  :  and  there- 
fore they  told  the  king  plainly,  'We  are  not  careful,' 
or  anxious,  '  to  answer  thee  in  this  matter.  If  it  be 
so,  our  God,  whom  we  serve,' is  '  able  to  deliver  us 
from  the  burning  fiery  furnace,  and  he  will  deliver  us 
out  of  thy  hand,  O  king :  but,  if  not,  be  it  known 
nnto  thee,  O  king,  that  we  will  not  serve  thy  god* 


rilE  FlEllY  FURNACE. 


nor  worship  thy  golden  image  which  thou  hast  set  up. 
Then  was  Nebuchadnezzar  full  of  fury — and  com- 
manded that  they  should  heat  the  furnace  one  seven 
times  more  than  it  was  wont  to  be  heated — Then 
these  men  were  cast  into  the  burning  fiery  furnace.' 
Watching  the  process,  the  king,  at  length,  '  was  asto- 
nished, and  rose  up  in  haste,  and  spake,  and  said  unto 
iiis  counsellors.  Did  not  w-e  cast,'  &:c. 

I  would  collect  from  this  Scripture  the  following 
Point  of  Doctrine: — whatever  trials  a  servant 

OF  GOD  MAY  BE  CALLED  TO  ENDURE,  HE  IS  SUFFI- 
CIENTLY supported  UNDER  THEM,  BY  THE  ASSURED 
PRESENCE   OF   AN    ALMIGHTY  FRIEND. 

I.  A  CHARACTER  is  here  pointed  out.  It  is 
the  servant  of  God,  a  man  of  grace,  a  believer,  who 
only  can  endure  fiery  trials. 

There  is  a  holy  principle  in  such  a  man,  which  will 
enable  him  to  endure  every  fiery  trial. 

It  is  ditticult  to  describe  in  words  the  feelings  of  thc 
heart;  but  we  may  insist  on  the  principle  called 
Grace,  and  Faith,  and  Zeal,  and  Love.  These  are 
but  ditferent  operations  of  the  same  principle. 
They  are  but  like  the  different  features  of  one  par- 
ticular person. 

The  Scriptures  generally  describe  this  principle  as 
the  Life  of  God  in  the  Soul  of  Man — the  being  made 
'partaker  of  a  divine  nature — the  new  creature.'  It 
is  called  Grace,  because  it  is  divine  grace  or  favour, 
that  implants  it  in  the  soul.  It  is  the  work  of  the 
Holy  Spirit  in  the  heart :  He  opens  the  sinner's  eyes  : 
He  shows  him  his  natural  condition  ;  He  points  to  the 
fulness  of  grace  and  mercy  in  Christ  Jesus  :  He  opens 
his  eai-s,  while  a  proclamation  of  mercy  is  made  to 
!iim :  He  looses  his  tongue,  and  puts  words  into  his 
mouth  that  he  may  make  a  good  confession :  He 
strengthens  his  hand,  and  gives  him  work  to  do — har- 
dening his  breast  like  a  flint,  when  called  to  endure 
trials. 

vnr,.  ri.  12* 


SERJION  XUl. 


When  trials  come  in,  therefore,  like  mighty  waves, 
and  threaten  to  overwhelm  such  a  man  as  Lot,  such  a 
man  as  Joseph,  such  a  man  as  Elijah,  the  principle  ot 
grace,  the  aid  of  the  Holy  Spirit  in  their  hearts,  ena- 
bles them  to  press  forward,  in  the  face  of  all  the. ob- 
stacles which  can  be  opposed  to  them  by  the  world, 
the  flesh,  and  the  Devil.  Trusting  to  an  Almighty 
Power,  and  leaving  the  consequences  in  God's  hand, 
these  men  can  say,  '  Wc  arc  not  careful  to  answer  in 
this  matter.' 

A  Christian  may  be  as  much  tried  in  the  furnace 
now,  as  in  any  past  age.  Smithfield  has  lighted  up 
its  fires  to  prove  the  principle  of  Grace.  Babylon 
never  tried  Grace  more,  than  this  kingdom  tried  it. 
and  still  does  try  it.  Many  a  private  family  has  been 
a  fiery  furnace  to  a  Christian. 

There  is,  however,  a  principle  implanted  in  the 
breast  of  a  servant  of  God,  which  enables  him  to 
stand  fast  and  abide  all  consequences.  What  a  proof 
of  this  is  before  us !  These  three  men  determined 
to  abide  all  consequences  :  but,  at  the  same  time,  they 
determined  to  maintain  the  faith,  and  fear,  and  truth 
of  God. 

What  instruction,  then,  is  to  be  derived  from  this 
view  of  the  passage?  It  says — "Expect  trials:  but 
fear  them  not.  Shrink  not  on  account  of  them. 
Think  not  your  trials  mightier  than  God  is,  to  support 
you  under  them.  Bow  not  down  to  the  world's  idols, 
that  you  may  escape  the  furnace ;  you  will  not  so 
conquer;  but  you  will  be  conquered.  'Think  it  not 
strange,  concerning  the  fiery  trial  which  is  to  try  you, 
as  though  some  strange  thing  happened  unto  you,'  for  it 
has  been  the  appointed  path  in  all  ages.  Expect  it: 
and  remember  the  promise,  '  Thy  shoes  shall  be  iron 
and  brass :  as  thy  day  is,  so  shall  thy  strength  be.* 
Tread  '  the  footsteps  of  the  flock ;'  and  remember. 
.Shadrach,  Meshach,  and  Abednego." 

Yet  I  must  know  but  little  of  Christianity,  if  I  did 


THE  FIERY  FURNACE. 


131 


not  know  how  much  easier  it  is  to  preach  on  this  sub- 
ject, than  to  endure  the  fiiery  trial.  I  would  ask. 
therefore,  What  is  to  be  our  support,  when  God  shall 
call  us  to  a  special  trial  ?  How  are  we  to  enter  the 
furnace  ?    What  support  shall  we  find  there  ? 

II.  The  SUPPORT  of  this  sufierer  is  the  second 
point  which  we  may  consider  from  this  Scripture. 

We  shall  see  Christ  in  the  furnace.  '  Lo !  I  ser 
four  men,  loose,  walking  in  the  midst  of  the  fire,  and 
the  form  of  the  fourth  is  like  the  Son  of  God.'  He, 
who  enters  the  furnace  for  the  honour  of  Christ,  shall 
meet  Christ  in  the  furnace. 

A  question  here  arises  :  "  When  does  a  man  enter 
the  furnace  for  the  honour  of  Christ?" 

A  serious  question  :  for  there  is  no  promise  to  the 
man  who  enters  it  in  his  own  spirit ;  to  gratify  his 
pride,  or  to  support  a  party.  There  must  be  a  good 
cause  to  make  a  martyr.  Why  did  these  men  enter 
the  furnace  ?  They  might  have  escaped  it,  but  it  was 
-;et  before  them  with  a  penalty  :  they  must  enter  the 
furnace  if  they  did  not  bow  down  to  the  idol.  They 
were  confident  of  safety,  if  they  entered  the  furnace 
to  avoid  bowing  down;  but  they  were  not  sure  of 
escaping  a  more  dreadful  furnace  if  they  did  bow 
down.  It  was  not  for  them,  therefore,  to  turn,  though 
the  penalty  was  so  tremendous.  They  entered  thus  the 
furnace  for  Christ:  that  is,  as  believers  in  the  Mes- 
siah to  come,  as  witnesses  for  God  and  his  truth. 

Here  another  question  arises:  "Was  this  person, 
who  walked  with  them,  Christ  ?" 

1  answer,  that  '  His  goings  forth  were  from  ever- 
lasting— His  delights  were  with  the  sons  of  men.' 
His  visits  were  frequent  in  the  old  world,  and  his 
visible  appearances  many.  It  is  said,  '  The  Lord 
came  down — The  Lord  appeared  to  Abraham — The 
Lord  wrestled  with  Jacob — The  Angel  of  the 
Lord  conversed  with  Manoah,'  but  he  gave  signs  of 
the  divine  character,  that  he  was  the  Angel  Jehovah. 


132 


It  is  said, '  The  Lord  talked  with  Moses  and  the  elders 
of  Israel ;'  yet  our  Lord  told  the  Jews,  that  his  Fa- 
ther never  was  visible.  '  No  man  hath  seen  God  at 
any  time.'  Who  then  was  the  Lord,  that  was  then 
made  visible?  WTiose  goings  forth  were  from  ever- 
lasting ?  JVhose  delights  were  with  the  sons  of  Men  ? 
Who  was  the  Lord  that  was  tempted  forty  years  in  the 
desert?  The  Apostle  tells  us  that  they  tempted 
Christ  in  the  wilderness. 

After  his  coming  in  the  flesh,  we  find  that  he  arrest- 
ed Saul  the  Pharisee:  'Saul,  Saul,  Why  persecutest 
thou  me  ?'  And  this  same  Saul,  afterward  in  his 
temptation,  which  was  his  fiery  trial,  had  no  other 
resource  than  the  grace  of  Christ.  He  was  in  the 
furnace  with  him. 

It  is  manifest,  therefore,  that  the  person  who  con- 
ducted the  whole  Mosaic  Dispensation  was  He. 
'whose  delights  were  with  the  sons  of  men' — God 
THE  Son. 

Whatever  reasons,  therefore,  the  king  might  have 
for  saying,  '  The  form  of  the  fourth  is  hke  the  Son  of 
God,'  whatever  he  might  have  learnt  from  the  wri- 
tings or  reports  of  the  Jews,  and  whatever  mi^ht  be 
his  meaning  herein,  yet  a  divine  person  was  found 
walking  with  these  men  :  he,  therefore,  that  entereth 
the  furnace  for  Christ,  shall  find  a  divine  person  walk- 
ing with  him  there. 

Brethren,  when  you  suffer,  see  that  you  suffer  for 
Christ.  This  will  be  your  honour.  '  Happy  are  ye, 
for  the  Spirit  of  Glory  and  of  God  resteth  upon  you.' 
The  promise  is  then  to  you — '  When  thou  passest 
through  the  waters,  I  will  be  with  thee;  and  through 
the  rivers,  they  shall  not  overflow  thee :  when  thou 
walkest  through  the  fire,  thou  shalt  not  be  burnt;  nei- 
ther shall  the  flame  kindle  upon  thee.'  Here  was  this 
promise  literally  fulfilled. 

I  shall  never  forget  the  encouragement  I  received 
when  I  was  a  young  man.  and  had  just  begun  my  mi- 


THE  FIERY  FURNACE. 


nistry,  when,  standing  by  the  dying  bed  of  my  mother, 
I  asked  her,  "  Do  not  you  tremble  at  the  thought  of 
entering  an  unknown  world  ?  How  do  you  know 
what  you  shall  meet  there  ?"  "  It  is  no  matter  what 
I  shall  meet  there.  He  hath  said, '  When  thou  passest 
through  the  waters,  I  will  be  with  thee  :  and  when 
thou  walkest  through  the  (ire,  thou  shalt  not  be  burnt. 
I  will  strengthen  thee :  I  will  uphold  thee.'  That 
satisfies  me !" 

III.  You  may  gather,  thirdly,  from  this  Scripture, 
the  DELIVERANCE,  which  a  suffering  servant  of 
God  will  obtain  in  fiery  trials. 

The  fire,  which  makes  fuel  of  every  thing  not 
prepared  to  enter  it,  only  releases  the  behever,  and 
burns  his  bonds. 

"  /  see,"  says  the  King,  '"''four  men  loose  !  Did 
not  we  cast  them  in  bound  ?  The  flame  has  had  ne 
effect  on  them,  but  it  has  burnt  their  bonds.  Nay,  I 
see  them  in  the  best  of  company  :  I  see  one  walking 
with  them  like  the  Son  of  God." 

I  have  always  observed,  that,  if  a  man  will  cleave 
with  purpose  of  heart  to  God,  God  will  most  pecu- 
liarly manifest  to  him  his  friendship  when  most  pecu- 
liarly needed.  '  I  have  chosen  thee  in  the  furnace  of 
affliction — I  will  make  thee  a  chosen  vessel  unto  me.' 
Brethren,  this  declaration,  in  the  full  meaning  of  it,  is 
every  day  fulfilling.  He  has  walked  but  a  little 
while  in  Christianity,  who  has  not  seen  this.  Job  was 
put  into  the  furnace :  night  and  day  the  man  had  no 
peace :  he  was  to  be  tried  in  every  extremity,  except 
the  loss  of  life.  God  will  bring  his  followers  into  the 
fiery  furnace,  in  order  to  glorify  his  name,  by  their 
support  and  deliveran.ee. 

Doubtless,  he  had  it  in  view  also  to  glorify  himself, 
by  exposing  the  idols  which  the  king  worshipped  ;  and 
showing,  that,  instead  of  being  gods,  they  were  bul 
creatures  in  the  hand  of  God. 

Whatever,  then,  others  may  suffer  in  trials,  if  we 


134 


SERMON  Xlll. 


can  enter  into  the  furnace  for  Christ's  sake,  and  look 
for  his  promised  presence  therein — -and  learn  to  glo- 
rify his  Great  Name,  what  have  we  to  fear  ?  W e  ma} 
fear  ease  and  self  indulgence  :  we  may  fear  worldly 
pleasure  and  wealth :  a  sense  of  our  weakness  will 
teach  us  how  much  we  ought  to  fear  that  which  is  so 
suited  to  our  corruptions :  but.  not  a  hair  of  the  head 
shall  perish,  of  those  who  suffer  for  his  Name !  Christ 
'  will  sit  as  a  refiner and.  when  he  puts  us  into  the 
fire,  we  should  say  to  him,  "  This  trial,  this  fire,  is  thy 
servant.  Command  it  to  purify,  and  let  my  bonds  be 
burnt  thereby.  Command  it  to  burn  up  my  lusts,  my 
corruptions  ;  and  to  set  my  soul  at  libert)  ." 

Let  us  learn,  then,  hrethren,  to  stand  in  the  spirit 
of  these  men ;  in  the  same  spirit  of  dependence  which 
they  manifested  :  and.  instead  of  fearing  the  trial,  let 
us  remember  the  awful  consequences  of  the  alter- 
native. 

IV.  We  may  learn,  once  more,  from  this  passage, 
that,  when  God  sends  to  a  man  that  support  which  he 
promises  in  the  furnace  of  affliction,  that  man  becomes 
a  WITNESS  for  God  : — an  invaluable  beacon,  as  it 
were,  to  a  benighted  world. 

These  men  gave  their  testimony,  doubtless,  for  their 
God  :  but  there  was  something  to  be  done.  The  most 
effectual  sermon  is  sometimes  preached  by  a  provi- 
dence. A  minister  may,  with  much  pains,  make  his 
point  as  plain  as  possible ;  yet  men  will  feel  uncon- 
cerned, till  God  speaks  bv  a  fact :  and  then  they  seem 
like  persons  just  awakened. 

Such  was  the  case  before  us.  Whatever  these  men 
had  to  say,  it  made  no  impression  ;  but  when  the  kmg 
saw  the  fact,  '  he  rose  up  in  haste,  was  astonished,  and 
spake  to  his  Qounsellors :' — men  in  utter  darkness  and 
ignorance,  like  himself,  until  this  blaze  of  light  burst 
on  their  consciences. 

Oh,  that  men,  w:ho  are  so  forward  to  preach  to  the 
world,  would  preach  in  wisdom  !  Let  them  -  fight  the 


135 


good  fight  of  faith,  and  lay  hold  on  eternal  life.'  Oh, 
that  they  would  walk  as  the. children  of  God  through 
their  trials  ! — That  they  would  support  their  Christian 
Character,  and  demonstrate  the  reality  of  religion  : 
then  would  they  preach  effectually ;  and  show  the 
hol>'  support  which  they  receive,  as  a  light  in  a  dark 
world. 

Experienced  Christians  have  told  me,  that  they 
were  not  so  much  convinced  by  a  preacher,  or  a  book, 
as  by  a  fact ;  that  they  marked,  and  kept  their  eye  on 
some  humble,  upright,  pious  Christian ;  living  above 
the  world,  while  greatly  tried  in  it ;  and  demonstrating 
that  he  was  an  overcomcr  of  the  world,  by  the  princi- 
ple of  grace  within  him. 

Brethren!  if  you  are  called  into  the  furnace  of 
affliction,  above  all  take  care  Avith  whom  you  walk 
there,  and  how  you  walk.  If  you  enter  the  furnace 
in  your  own  strength,  much  more  from  fanaticism  or 
obstinacy,  you  may  suffer,  and  even  be  burnt  up  there : 
but,  if  you  enter  in  a  holy  fear,  to  glorify  God  and  to 
avoid  sin,  to  be  a  light  in  a  dark  world,  depending  on 
divine  promises,  then  will  you  enter  according  to  the 
will  of  God,  and  you  will  overcome.  The  Christian 
will  honour  God,  and  he  will  be  honoured  by  God. 

Remember,  too,  that,  wherever  you  walk,  whether 
in  the  fire  or  out  of  the  fire,  many  are  looking  on. 
Our  steps  are  marked  ;  and  we  are  not  only  looked  on 
by  this  world,  but  by  other  worlds.  '  We  are  come  to 
an  innumerable  company  of  angels.'  The  Christian 
has  spectators  in  heaven,  earth,  and  hell ;  beholding 
how  far  he  plays  the  man  to  the  glory  of  his  God. 

Let  us,  therefore,  sec  our  journey  through  this 
world  laid  down  in  the  conduct  of  these  men.  '  On 
their  bodies  the  fire  had  no  power  :'  they  lost  'not  a 
hair  of  their  heads  :'  even  '  tlie  smell  of  fire  had  not 
passed  on  them  :'  their  bonds  only  were  burnt :  their 
God  was  honoured :  they  were  taken  to  court,  and 
their  enemies  were  confounded. 


136 


SERMON  XIII. 


But  I  am  speaking  to  some  who  will  not  suffer  for 
Christ :  who  will  sooner  bow  down  to  the  idol :  who 
will  not  set  their  faces  like  a  flint,  but  will  seek  the 
honour  that  cometh  from  men  :  who  know  nothing  of 
this  principle  of  loyalty  to  Christ :  who  do  not  call 
him  Master :  who  do  not  ask  their  hearts,  "  What  will 
Christ  have  me  to  do,  now  that  he  is  gone  ?" — '  He. 
that  confesseth  me  not,'  saith  the  Saviour,  'before 
men ;  him  will  I  not  confess,  when  I  come  in  the 
glory  of  my  Father.'  If  He  is  to  be  believed,  who  is 
'  the  faithful  and  true  witness,'  w  ho  has  seen  the  whole 
of  the  invisible  world,  and  whom  alone  we  can  safel} 
trust  for  an  account  of  it.  He  says,  that  if  we  pass 
not  through  the  furnace  of  trial  for  his  sake,  we  musf 
pass  into  a  '  lake  of  fire  and  brimstone,  which  is  the 
second  death.'  No  comforter  will  there  be  to  walk 
with  you  in  that  fire !  No  friend  can  there  approach 
us  more  ;  nor  can  a  wicked  relation,  without  increas- 
ing the  terrors  of  that  forlorn  abode  !  I  beseech  you. 
therefore,  before  that  shall  become  your  unhappy  state, 
to  think  of  these  things :  and  may  God  command  his 
blessing  upon  what  has  been  said,  that  it  may  ofTect- 
nally  awaken  you ! 


SERMON  XIV. 


SIGNS  OF  TRUE  WISDOM 
Matt.  ii.  1,  2, 

Vijw  when  Jesus  was  born  in  Bethlehem  of  Judea,  in  the  Ua}s  ul 
Herod  the  King,  beh'Old,  there  came  Wise  Men  from  the  East  to 
Jerusalem,  saying,  where  is  he  that  is  born  King  of  the  Jews  ?  For 
■we^have  seen  his  Star  in  the  East,  and  are  come  to  worship  him. 

It  would  be  but  trifling  with  your  attention  and  wasting 
jour  time,  to  spend  it  in  considering  who  these  Magi 
were — whence  they  came — or  what  was  the  nature  of 
this  star.  There  is  no  more  to  be  known  on  these 
subjects  from  this  passage,  than  what  appears  on  the 
face  of  it.  Our  grand  concern  is  the  moral  instruc- 
tion to  be  derived  from  this  history. 

The  conduct  of  these  wise  men  suggests  to  us  some 
marks  of  illumination  or  true  wisdom,  wherever  it  is 
afforded  to  the  mind  of  man. 

A  truly  wise  man  is  a  very  different  character  from 
a  worldly  wise  man.  A  worldly  wise  man  may  satisfy 
himself  and  others  with  the  extent  of  his  knowledge, 
the  discoveries  which  he  has  made  in  human  science, 
and  the  comprehensive  view  which  he  takes  of  public 
affairs  :  or  he  may  take  his  walk  among  the  stars,  and 
measure  their  distances  and  relations  :  he  may  be  call- 
ed the  illumination  of  the  day,  in  the  departmen) 
which  he  occupies.  But  I  would  ask  this  grand  ques- 
tion :  Does  he  stand  related  to  no  world  but  this  ? — 
Has  he  a  soul  to  be  saved  ? — Is  he  a  sinner  ? — Has  hf 
found  a  remedy  for  his  guilt  and  misery  ?  Has  he  an) 
thing  to  set  his  foot  on  at  death,  when  called  into 
another  world  ?  Nothing  of  all  this  !  Then  what  wi=- 

voL.  n.    *  i;^ 


SERMON  XIV. 


dom  is  his  ?  He  is  but  as  a  child — provided  a  child  is 
equipped  for  a  day's  amusement,  it  thinks  nothing  of 
the  morrow ! 

Let  us,  then,  consider  the  marks  of  true  wisdom, 
as  they  appear  in  the  conduct  of  these  men. 

I.  True  Wisdom  will  teach  a  man  to  SEEK  AN 
INFALLIBLE  GUIDE,  in  this  dark  and  dangerous 
world. 

The  wise  man  will  follow  the  light  of  his  dispensa- 
tion. He  knows  that  he  has  questions  to  ask,  which 
God  alone  can  answer.  He  cannot  so  much  as  know 
the  object  of  his  worship,  till  God  teach  him  :  for  'who. 
by  searching,  can  find  out  God  ?  Who  can  find  out  the 
Almighty  to  perfection  V  Who  can  tell  what  it  is.fit  for 
God  to  do  with  his  creature,  or  how  that  creature  may 
safely  appear  before  him  ? 

The  Wise  Men  had  but  the  light  of  a  star ;  but  they 
doubtless  knew  that  it  was  a  light  which  God  provided. 
They  had  a  tradition,  probably,  that  a  star  should  arise 
to  direct  them  to  the  Messiah.  Balaam's  prophec} 
might  give  rise  to  such  tradition  :  but  what  particular 
knowledge  they  had  of  this  star  we  are  not  informed  : 
but  it  is  sufficient  for  us  to  know  that  they  had  that 
knowledge. 

II.  True  Wisdom  will  FOLLOW  SUCH  A 
GUIDE,  whenever  it  appears. 

The  object  to  which  such  a  guide  leads  ma)'  be  at 
-a  great  distance.  Many  impediments  may  be  in  the 
way  :  many  objections  may  be  found  :  puzzling  ques- 
tions may  arise  :  it  may  be.  at  best,  but  star-light ;  but 
it  is  the  only  light  afforded. 

Let  us  learn  thus  to  use  our  Bibles  : — not  to  search 
for  objections — not  to  try  what  questions  may  be 
started — not  to  examine  what  misconstnictions  may 
arise.  Have  you  any  other  light  ?  Are  }  ou  not  in- 
volved in  total  darkness,  if  that  light  be  extinguished  ? 
True  wisdom  will  follow  star-light,  when  it  has  not 
that  of  the  sun  :  it  will  be  guided  by  true  light, 
wherever  that  can  be  found. 


139 


To  us,  in  this  day,  who  are  not  called  to  follow 
shadows  and  dark  ceremonies,  but  '  with  open  face  to 
behold  the  glory  of  the  Lord,'  as  it  appears  '  in  the 
face  of  Jesus  Christ,'  the  grand  question  is,  what  is 
the  value  of  the  object  which  we  are  pursuing  ?  What 
is  salvation  ?  What  shall  I  obtain  therein  ?  acceptance, 
pardon — purity — boldness  before  God  !  what  a  mar- 
vellous light ! — what  a  blessed  dispensation  !  How 
thankful  ought  we  to  be  for  this  light !  how  willing  to 
follow  it ;  and  to  follow  it  simply — humbly — entirely ! 

This  did  these  Wise  Men  :  they  came  inquiring. 
'  where  is  he  that  is  born  King  of  the  Jews  '!  for  we 
have  seen  his  star  in  the  East,  and  are  come  to  wol-- 
ship  him.' 

III.  True  Wisdom  will  HONOUR  THE  OBJECT 
WHICH  IT  HAS  FOUND. 

It  will  not  listen  to  the  ob^ctions  of  the  scoffer,  or 
unbeliever.  Herod,  and  the  Chief  Priests,  and  all  Je- 
rusalem were  troubled:  but  who  were  they  ?  Their 
character  explained  their  opposition. 

Are  you  troubled,  because  you  have  in  your  fami- 
Hes  persons  who  sneer  and  scoff",  and  treat  the  Sabbath 
and  the  Gospel  with  contempt,  and  despise  religious 
men  because  they  are  religious  ?  How  would  you  ex- 
pect such  scoffers  to  act  ?  Is  not  their  conduct  in 
character?  Has  not  God  said,  that  'In  the  last  days 
there  shall  arise  scoffers,  walking  after  their  own  lusts 
— speaking  evil  of  things  that  they  know  not  V 

Herod,  and  the  Chief  Priests,  and  all  Jerusalem 
were  troubled,  because  they  loved  darkness  rather 
than  light.  But  these  men  came  to  Jerusalem  and 
inquired  publicly,  "■  Where  is  he  that  i.t  horn  King  of 
the  Jews  ?  We  are  come  from  a  far  country,  and  we 
are  determined  to  own  and  honour  the  object  of  which 
we  are  in  pursuit." 

Brethren :  our  inquiries  may  possibly  disturb  oth- 
ers ;  yet  we  must  persevere.  Ours  is  not  an  alfair  to 
be  trifled  with :  it  is  of  infinite  moment !  liCt  us  bf 


140 


civil,  and  kind,  and  benevolent,  and  give  no  offence  to 
Jew  or  Gentile,  much  less  to  the  Church  of  God  ;  but. 
in  an  affair  of  such  infinite  importance  as  salvation 
and  the  confessing  of  Christ  before  men,  we  must  be 
simple  and  determined :  we  must  say,  with  Joshua, 
•  Choose  ye  whom  ye  will  serve  :  but,  as  for  me  and 
my  house,  we  will  serve  the  Lord.' 

IV.  True  Wisdom  will  continue  to  WAIT  IN  AN 
HUMBLE  SPIRIT,  FOR  FURTHER  DIREC- 
TION. 

This  did  the  Wise  Men.  '  They  rejoiced  with  ex- 
ceeding great  joy,  when  they  saw  the  star.'  And 
when  it  had  led  them  to  the  young  child — '  God  man- 
ifest in  the  flesh' — they  waited  for  further  directions  : 

■  and,  being  warned  of  God  in  a  dream,'  thej  returned 

■  into  their  own  country  another  way.' 

My  dear  hearers,  we  want  daily  instruction ;  yea, 
every  hour  of  the  day.  We  know  not  what  a  day 
may  bring  forth,  nor  what  is  contained  ih  a  single 
circumstance  of  the  day,  nor  what  mischief  and  dan- 
ger may  await  us.  The  same  care  of  God,  in  his 
Providence,  which  is  necessary  to  our  preservation  in 
the  most  tremendous  danger,  is  equally  necessary  in 
the  most  unsuspicious  circumstances. 

The  star  had  left  these  men:  they  had  found  their 
object;  but  they  still  inquired:  they  still  needed  di- 
rection :  they  waited,  and  God  warned  them  what 
steps  they  should  take,  after  they  had  found  Christ. 
You  may  be  a  Christian  of  mature  age,  and  able  to 
instruct  others ;  yet  you  need  to  pray  continually. 

JVhat  I  know  not,  teach  thou  me.  Let  me  hear  th} 
voice,  saying,  This  is  the  zvay :  walk  ye  in  it ;  when  I 
turn  to  the  right  hand,  or  to  the  leftJ^^ 

V.  True  Wisdom  will  teach  a  man  CALMLY 
TO  PURSUE  HIS  COURSE. 

The  wise  man  will  hold  on  this  way,  regardless  ol 
the  consequences  which  he  expects  to  meet.  He 
will  hold  on  his  way,  and  wax  stronger  and  stronger. 


141 


Thus  it  was  with  Moses  :  he  had  great  difficulties 
to  encounter;  but  by  faith  he  overcame  :  he  went  on 
his  way,  acted  according  to  his  rule,  and  left  conse- 
quences with  God.  Thus  these  Wise  Men,  having  seen 
'  God  manifest  in  the  flesh,'  felt  that  they  had  seen 
enough  to  prevent  their  being  carried  away  by  the 
fears  of  the  world.  Never  will  any  man  be  cured  of 
that  worst  of  disorders — the  world  in  the  heart — till 
he  has  by  faith  beheld  the  salvation  of  God  in  the 
work  of  Christ. 

Let  us,  then,  imitate  these  Wise  Men  :  let  us  keep 
the  feast  of  the  Epiphany,  on  the  eve  of  which  we 
now  are,  by  admiring  the  condescension,  grace,  and 
goodness  of  God,  to  us  Gentiles.  'Arise!  shine!' 
says  the  prophet :  '  for  thy  light  is  come,  and  the  glory 
of  the  Lord  is  risen  upon  thee.  The  people  that  sat 
in  darkness  have  seen  a  great  light  :'  God  has  stooped 
down  to  our  necessities.  By  the  assistance  of  those 
ministers  or  friends,  whom  he  raises  up  for  us — by 
the  books,  which  he  brings  to  our  hands — by  the  hints, 
which  he  occasionally  atfords  us — by  the  good 
thoughts,  which  he  suggests  to  the  mind — he  can  con- 
duct us,  as  he  did  these  Wise  Men,  to  behold  the 
glory  of  God  in  the  face  of  Jesus  Christ. 

1.  My  Christian  Brethren!  do  you  feel,  at  times, 
that  the  truth  will  not  suffer  you  to  rest  in  the  course 
wherein  you  have  been  walking  ? — that,  however  vari- 
ous occurrences  may  seem  to  drive  the  truth  out  of 
your  mind,  yet  it  returns  again  ;  and  that  one  passage 
of  scripture  after  another  calls  loudly  to  your  con- 
science ? — This  is  as  the  shining  of  the  star  to  the  Wise 
Men :  this  is,  as  another  scripture  expresses  it,  Christ 
knocking  at  the  door  of  your  hearts !  Take  cark 

HOW   YOU   TRIFLE   WITH  CONVICTION. 

It  is  most  awful  to  stifle  conviction.  Stifled  con- 
viction will  rise  again  in  the  judgment  to  witness 
against  you.  If  you  spend  your  time,  while  reading 
the  scriptures,  in  searching  for  poetical  beauties  or 

VOT..  II.  13* 


SERMON  XIV. 


making  critical  remarks,  you  act  as  these  Wise  Men 
would  have  done,  if  they  had  sat  down  spectators  ol 
the  phenomenon,  but  took  no  step  in  following  it. 
We  are  not.  as  Mr.  Boyle  expresses  it,  to  stand  looking 
at  the  telescope-case,  but  to  look  through  it :  children 
may  be  amused  with  the  case,  but  the  astronomer  uses 
the  telescope  as  an  instrument  whereby  to  discover 
the  wonders  of  the  planetary  world.  Thus  let  us  en- 
deavour to  use  the  light  which  God  affords — not  to 
amuse  ourselves  with  it,  but  to  make  our  way  by  it  to 
the  light  of  life. 

2.  If  True  Wisdom  consists  in  seeking  an  infallible 
guide,  following  such  a  guide  when  it  appears,  confess- 
ing our  object  before  men,  waiting  for  further  direc- 
tion, and  pursuing  our  course  regardless  of  all  conse- 
quences— if  this  be  true  wisdom,  how  blind  anh 

WRETCHED  ARE  THEY,  WHO  HAVE  NEVER  TAKEN  ON}: 
STEP   BY   THE   LIGHT   AFFORDED   THEM  ! 

The  man  may  be  a  King — so  was  Herod  :  but  what 
use  did  he  make  of  the  circumstances  in  which  he  was 
placed  ?  He  may  be  a  Scholar — so  were  the  Saddu- 
cees  and  Pharisees  :  but  what  light  had  they  ?  what 
discoveries  did  they  make  ?  He  may  be  a  Minister — 
so  were  the  Chief  Priests  :  and  what  did  they  do  with 
this  marvellous  light  ?  The  man  may  be  successful  in 
his  schemes  and  projects — so  were  Dives  and  Demas : 
but  what  became  of  them  ?  What  wisdom  had  they  .' 
Can  you  conceive  of  men  more  beguiled  of  Satan  than 
these  men  ?  The  world  may  praise  them :  but  what 
does  God  say  of  them  ?  Let  us  hear  his  account,  and 
listen  to  what  we  hear :  "  If  our  Gospel  be  hid,  it  is 
liid  to  them  that  are  lost !' 

Am  1  speaking  to  any  who  are  yet  sleeping,  though 
so  glorious  a  light  is  risen  upon  the  earth  ? — I  would 
say  to  such,  What !  does  this  light  shine,  that  you 
may  determine  to  sit  in  darkness,  and  pour  contempf 
on  it  ?  What  will  you  plead  in  the  Great  Day  ?  You 
cannot  say.  like  the  benighted  Chinese  or  Indian. 


SIGNS  OF  TRUE  WISDOM. 


143 


We  were  brought  up  in  the  darkness  of  idolatry. 
The  hght  that  was  in  us,  was  darkness."  You  musl 
give  account  of  these  truths :  and  then  you  will  find 
them  to  be  'a  savour  of  death  unto  death.' 

3.  If  True  Wisdom  is  here  marked  out  and  set  be- 
fore us,  and  recommended  to  our  attention  by  the  God 
of  all  wisdom,  what  a  dlessed  thing  it  is  to  be 
REALLY  WISE — ^a  truly  godly  man,  enlightened  and 
enlivened  by  this  hght ! 

For  there  is  one  Spirit,  one  light,  one  real  charac- 
ter in  all  true  Christians.  Were  these  lights,  which 
are  shining  around  us  to-night,  to  be  multiplied  into 
len  thousand  times  their  number,  they  would  be  all  of 
the  same  nature.  So  the  grace  of  God,  whether  il 
work  in  Abraham,  in  Lazarus,  or  in  any  sinner  at  this 
day,  is  of  the  same  nature  still. 

My  dear  hearers,  let  the  world  think  of  these  things 
as  they  may.  These  Wise  Men  were  treated,  doubt- 
less, with  the  utmost  contempt  in  Jerusalem,  when 
they  came,  inquiring,  '  Where  is  he,  that  is  born  King 
of  the  Jews  ?'  And  when  they  set  out  from  their  own 
country,  it  is  probable  they  were  regarded  as  mad- 
men :  the  following  of  a  star  must  have  been  ac- 
counted by  their  countrymen,  as  one  of  the  wildest 
projects  that  ever  entered  the  head  of  man.  And 
when  they  fell  down  before  the  child,  and  offered  gold 
and  frankincense,  whoever  stood  round  and  were  not 
under  the  same  gracious  influence,  would  regard  it  as 
the  most  egregious  trifling  to  pour  out  such  gifts  before 
a  poor  child,  in  the  lap  of  a  poor  virgin,  and  in  the 
meanest  situation,  under  the  idea  that  they  were  led 
by  a  star  to  pay  that  adoration. 

You  see  now  the  opinions  of  the  men  of  the  world. 
Nothing  can  be  gathered  from  them.  Let  us  follow 
our  rule,  and  leave  consequences,  as  these  Wise  Men 
did.  And  how  will  these  very  men  rise  up  in  judg- 
ment against  the  curious  traveller,  the  wise  politician, 
the  learned,  the  scorners  and  scoffers  of  every  day, 


144 


SERMON  XIV  . 


who  pour  contempt  on  our  treasure — the  most  glori- 
ous object  that  God  ever  showed  to  man — while  they 
bring  forward  their  little  trifles — their  shells  and  their 
pebbles — and  summon  the  world  to  the  admiration  oi 
them ! 

I  call  on  you.  therefore,  to  seek  True  Wisdom  : 
that  you  may  be  of  the  number  of  those  whom  God 
calls  wise,  and  will  prove  to  have  been  such  in  the 
face  of  these  scorners  :  for,  •  They  that  be  wise,  shall 
shine  as  the  stars  for  ever  and  ever.'  Let  us  be  can- 
didates for  that  glory :  and  let  us  remember,  that  no 
man  ever  sought  in  vain  that  honour  which  comcth  of 
God. 


SERMON  XV 


SIGNS  OF  THE  TIMES. 

Matt.  xvi.  1,  2,  3. 

riie  Pharisees  also,  with  the  Sadducees,  came  :  and,  templing,  de- 
sired him  that  he  would  show  them  a  sign  from  heaven.  He  an- 
swered and  said  unto  them.  When  it  is  evening,  ye  say,  it  will 
be  fair  weatlier  ;  for  the  sky  is  red :  and,  in  the  morning,  it  will 
be  foul  weather  to-day ;  for  the  sky  is  red  and  lowering.  O  ye 
hypocrites,  ye  can  discern  the  face  of  the  sky,  but  can  ye  not  dis- 
cern the  signs  of  the  times  ? 

The  Pharisees  and  Sadducees  were  the  formalists 
and  infidels  of  that  day.  They  came  in  a  curious, 
unbelieving  spirit, — a  spirit  never  likely  to  receive 
any  instruction :  but  they  came  in  this  spirit,  desiring 
to  see  a  sign,  or  miracle.  Our  Lord  reproved  this 
-pirit :  for  he  looked  at  the  hearts  of  these  men.  He 
<eems  to  have  reproved  them  in  this,  sentiment : — 
•  Ye  are  observant  in  natural  things  :  ye  know  how  to 
read  the  face  of  the  sky ;  but  how  is  it  that  ye  are  so 
blind  in  moral  considerations,  that  ye  seem  to  know 
nothing  at  all  of  the  signs  of  the  times ."' — or,  as  St. 
Luke  expresses  it,  in  the  twelfth  chapter  of  his  Gospel; 
"  How  is  it  that  ye  do  not  discern  this  time  ?  W  hy  do 
not  ye  understand  your  dispensation  ?  Why,  like  chil- 
dren, do  ye  want  to  see  something  that  shall  meet 
your  curiosity,  in  this  idle  and  unbelieving  spirit  ?  You 
see  enough,  if  you  could  read  what  you  see.  Why 
do  you  not  perceive  that  tiie  kingdom  of  God  is 
among  you  ? — that  Christ,  the  Son  of  God,  is  come  and 
liath  eternal  life.  Having  eyes,  ye  see  not !  You  look 
at  the  skies,  and  learn  to  read  them  ;  and  why  do  you 
not  read  the  signs  and  tokens  of  your  times  ?" 


146 


SERMON  XV. 


We  are  here  taught,  therefore,  that  a  conscientious 
man  will  endeavour,  so  far  as  he  is  able,  to  read  the 
Signs  of  his  Time. 

I  shall  endeavour  to  point  out, 

1_.  The  signs  of  our  times. 

2.  What  these  signs  suggest  in  regard  to 

OUR  DUTY. 

I.  Let  us  inquire,  WHAT  ARE  THE  SIGNS  OF 
OUR  TIMES. 

1.  As  thej  proceed  from  god. 

He  hath  afforded  us  a  singular  Dispensation  of 
Grace.  He  hath  put  us  in  a  capacity  of  being  deli- 
vered from  our  sins,  in  their  guilt  and  power.  He 
hath  set  before  us  a  refuge  :  '  that  we,  being  delivered 
from  our  enemies,  might  serve  him  without  fear,  in 
holiness  and  righteousness  all  the  days  of  our  lives.' 
He  hath  set  forth  'a  new  and  living  way,  which  he 
hath  consecrated  for  us :'  by  this  way  we  have  acces;- 
to  God. 

Not  only  is  this  special  privilege  a  Sign  of  our 
Times,  but  God  has  evidently  a  contention  with  Eu- 
rope, under  its  awful  neglect  of  this  dispensation  of 
mercy.  '  The  Lord  is  doing  his  strange  work.'  He 
hath  evidently  '  risen  out  of  his  place,'  as  the  Prophet 
expresses  it.  I  cannot  adequately  speak  on  this  sub- 
ject :  it  must  overwhelm  you.  He  brings  vast  armies 
to  nothing!  'The  mighty  men  do  not  find  their 
hands !'  The  most  unexpected  vicissitudes  take 
place — such  as  we  cannot  match  in  history!  The 
valiant  expire  in  the  arms  of  victory  !* 

Consider  more  particularly  our  condition  as  a  na- 
tion. How  long  have  we  been  threatened  with  an 
overwhelming  invasion !  Every  preparation  has  been 
made,  and  yet  how  has  it  been  delayed !  How  have 
the  arms  of  our  enemies  been  chained!  What  a 
train  of  victories  mark  the  history  of  the  present 

*  This  Sermon  was  preached  soon  after  the  intelligence  arrived  nt 
1  tie  victory  of  Trafalgar,  and  the  death  of  Lord  Nelson.        .T.  P, 


SIGNS  OF  THE  TIMES. 


147 


times !  Nor  ought  it  to  be  forgotten,  that  God  has 
caused  his  name  to  be  owned  in  those  victories. 
What  patience  and  long-sutfering  has  God  exercised 
toward  us,  under  great  provocations!  It  seems  to 
have  been  said  concerning  us,  as  it  was  concerning 
the  fig-tree,  '  Spare  it  yet  a  Httle  longer.' 

Such  are  the  Signs  of  the  Times,  as  they  proceed 
from  God. 

2.  Let  us  turn  to  the  consideration  of  these  Signs, 
as  they  proceed  from  man. 

It  will  be  much  too  large  a  field  to  enter  on  the 
atrocious  and  audacious  infidelity  of  the  times — to 
say  nothing  of  the  contempt,  or  at  least  the  neglect, 
of  the  dispensation  of  grace  under  which  we  live — 
to  say  nothing  of  the  worldly  spirit  of  speculation, 
and  the  multiplied  efforts  after  gain — to  say  nothing 
of  the  affectation,  the  consequence,  and  the  extrava- 
gance which  pervade  all  orders ;  and  the  impurity  and 
insubordination  of  spirit,  diffused  over  the  world.  I 
pass  by  these  general  sins,  to  mark  one ;  and  that  one 
appears  to  me  to  be  the  most  awful  of  all  sins — I 
mean  the  moral  insensibility  of  the  times! — 
the  Moral  Insensibility  ! — for  if,  while  God  is  con- 
tending with  the  careless  and  wicked  world,  which 
despises  the  dispensation  of  his  grace,  Christendom 
still  continues  overwhelmed  in  its  sins,  I  cannot  un- 
derstand how  the  stroke  is  to  cease.  Is  it  not  sent  to 
scourge  Christendom,  till  there  appears  something 
like  moral  sensibility  ?  till  the  sinner  is  disposed  to 
cry,  I  have  sinned?  till  some  shame  is  felt  for  our  in- 
sulting contempt  of  the  Son  of  God's  coming  down 
from  heaven  '  to  bear  our  sins  in  his  own  body  on  the 
tree  ?'  I  cannot  understand  how  the  stroke  should 
€ease,  till  this  moral  sensibility  appears! 

One,  who  has  not  looked  into  this  matter,  might 
perhaps  be  ready  to  say,  "  What  can  you  mean  by 
Insensibility  ?  The  greatest  sensibility  prevails  at 
'hi^  very  time.    Every  idea  seems  to  be  called  home. 


148 


SERMON  X\  . 


Every  one  speaks  feelingly  of  the  extraordinary  in- 
telligence of  the  last  week.  The  whole  conversa- 
tion turns  on  this  subject!" 

All  this  is  quite  natural.  Shall  a  man  spend  hi? 
life  in  such  a  cause,  and  expire  under  the  circum- 
stances of  such  a  victory,  without  awakening  our 
feelings  ?  Shall  such  a  check  be  given  to  our  invete- 
rate enemy,  and  no  sensation  of  thankfulness  arise 
even  in  the  most  insensible  ?  But — has  it  never 
been  heard,  that  one  died,  not  for  his  friends,  but  foi- 
his  enemies  ?  Is  there  no  instance  of  a  glorious  vic- 
tory, accomplished  over  the  world,  sin.  and  hell,  by 
the  death  of  that  one  who  came  from  heaven,  and 
was  equal  with  the  Father,  yet  came  to  lay  down  hi? 
life  for  sinners  ?  That  people,  who  are  full  of  feeling 
on  the  present  occasion,  have  perhaps  scarcely  in  their 
lives  ever  thought  or  spoke  or  would  even  beai' 
to  hear  of  these  things — is  not  this  Moral  Insensi- 
bility ? 

What  is  said  in  the  eighth  chapter  of  Jeremiah, 
seems  to  me  exceedingly  like  the  present  Signs  of  tht 
Times  : — '  I  hearkened,  and  heard  ;  but  they  spake 
not  aright :  no  man  repented  him  of  his  wickedness, 
saying,  What  have  I  done Every  one  turned  to  hU 
course,  as  the  horse  rusheth  into  the  battle.  Yea,  the 
stork  in  the  heaven  knoweth  her  appointed  times,  and 
the  turtle,  and  the  crane,  and  the  swallow,  observe 
the  time  of  their  coming;  but  my  people  know  not 
the  judgment  of  the  Lord — God  is  not  in  all  their 
thoughts  ?' 

What  says  our  Lord,  in  the  eleventh  chapter  of  St. 
Luke  ?  '  The  Queen  of  the  South  shall  rise  up  in 
the  judgment  with  the  men  of  this  generation,  and 
shall  condemn  them :  for  she  came  from  the  utmost 
parts  of  the  earth,  to  hear  the  wisdom  of  Solomon : 
and,  behold,  a  greater  than  Solomon  is  here.  The 
men  of  Nineveh  shall  rise  up  in  the  judgment  with 
this  generation,  and  shall  condemn  it:  for  they  re- 


SIGNS  OF  THE  TIMES. 


149 


pented  at  the  preaching  of  Jonas;  and,  behold,  a 
greater  than  Jonas  is  here.'  I  would  add,  that  the 
seaman,  who  summoned  his  sailors  to  prayer,  acknow- 
ledged that  God's  arm  was  strength,  and  that  victory 
was  his,  shall  rise  up  in  judgment  with  many  in  this 
generation ! 

II.  We  have  marked  a  few  of  the  prominent  Signs 
of  the  Times  :  let  us  now  consider  to  what  DUTIES 
these  views  should  lead  us. 

1.  They  should  lead  us  to  recollection. 

A  man  must  have  made  but  little  observation,  not 
to  see  how  much  multitudes  resemble  thoughtless 
sailors  ;  who,  when  a  wreck  is  going  down,  will  satisf) 
themselves  with  some  momentary  gratification  ;  and, 
though  eternity  is  before  them,  let  them  but  have  this, 
they  think  nothing  of  death  and  the  terrors  of  hell. 
My  dear  hearers,  man's  grand  concern  is  with  his 
eternal  state.  It  is  not  the  moment  of  life — it  is  not 
the  first  stage  of  his  existence — it  is  what  he  is  to  be 
forever — it  is  what  God  thinks  of  him,  and  what  he 
thinks  of  his  God.  This  is  the  grand  concern  :  for, 
till  he  lives  thus  by  faith,  he  is  a  mere  child,  trifling 
with  the  occasions  of  the  day:  What  is  the  news? 
W^hat  shall  amuse  his  attention  ?  What  is  the  thing 
that  he  shall  call  very  important  in  its  place  ?  But 
if,  after  all  this,  while  this  important  concern,  or  that 
important  concern,  is  occupying  his  mind,  the  man 
himself  totally  forgets  his  condition — forgets  his  cha- 
racter as  a  sinner — forgets  the  provision  of  grace, 
and  the  redemption  that  is  in  Christ  Jesus — what  is 
this  man,  but,  like  one  of  the  poor  perishing  sailors, 
amused  with  a  momentary  gratification  ?  Little  does 
such  a  man  understand  the  Signs  of  the  Times.  He 
may  be  amused  with  the  face  of  the  sky,  and  may 
very  skilfully  investigate  appearances  there,  and  fur- 
nish himself  with  matter  of  conversation — but  he  will 
not  know  the  Signs  of  the  Times. 

von.  ij.  M 


150 


SERaiON  X\' . 


2.  These  signs  point  out  to  us  also  the  duty  o' 

PRAYER. 

It  is  in  this  way,  that  we  transact  with  heaven : 
this  is  God's  appointment :  it  is  our  duty  ;  and,  there 
fore,  he.  who  rightly  understands  the  Signs  of  tht 
Times,  will  say,  as  the  Prophet  saith,  "  Oh,  that  thou 
uouldest  rend  the  heavens,  that  thou  wouldest  come 
dozen!  Oh,  that  thou  wouldest  set  to  rights,  that 
which  is  wrong !  that  thou  wouldest  put  a  stop  to 
this  bloodshed  and  misery !  Oh,  that  thou  wouldest 
say  to  these  proud  waves,  'Peace I'  for  thou  only 
canst  say  it." 

Such  a  man  is  standing,  like  Aaron,  between  the 
living  and  the  dead :  like  Abraham,  he  is  interceding 
for  us  before  the  throne  of  God. 

3.  The  Signs  of  the  Times  point  out  that  provi- 
sion FOR  SOUL  AND  BODY,  WHICH  EVERY  MAN  IS 
CALLED     TO     MAKE     IX     SUCH     TIMES  ;    UOt  kuowing 

what  vicissitudes,  troubles,  and  extremities  he  may 
have  to  encounter. 

He  was  a  wise  man.  who  said,  "  I  see  warfare  and 
misery  spreading  over  the  earth ;  and  it  may  bend  its 
course  shortly  toward  me  :  but '  I  will  stand  upon  my 
watch,  and  set  me  upon  the  tower :  and  will  watch  to 
see  what  he  will  say  unto  me ;  and  what  I  shall  answer 
when  1  am  reproved.'  I  will  be  in  a  position  to  meet 
every  event." 

This  is  true  wisdom ;  and  to  this  the  Signs  of  the 
Times  particularly  urge  us :  that,  when  the  Son  ol 
Man  comes  in  his  providence,  we  may  have  nothing  tv 
do  but  to  meet  him. 

4.  The  Signs  of  the  Times  point  out  to  Us.  an  ac- 
knowledgment OF  GOD'S  GOODNESS  AND  SPECIAI 
MERCY. 

God  is  now  saying  as  it  were.  Chain  up.  a  little 
longer,  the  force  that  has  been  prepared  against  that 
■land  !"    It  is  as  though  he  said  to  the  enemy.  '  Hither- 


SIGNS  OF  THE  TIMES. 


151 


to  shalt  thou  come,  and  no  further :  and  here  shall  thy 
proud  waves  be  stayed.' 

Let  us,  then,  look  up  to  God,  that  he  would  make 
the  wrath  of  man  to  praise  him  ;  and  that  he  would 
restrain  the  remainder  of  that  wrath.  Surely,  if  there 
is  any  nation  on  the  earth  that  has  special  benefits  to 
acknowledge,  sparing  mercies  to  record,  and  high  pri- 
vileges which  it  has  long  enjoyed,  it  is  England !  Let 
us,  therefore,  beseech  God  to  give  us  a  deep  sense  of 
his  mercies. 

My  dear  hearers,  you  may  remember,  that  our  Lord 
divides  the  world  into  what  he  calls  '  the  children  oi 
this  W orld,  and  the  children  of  Light.' 

1  would  improve  this  subject  by  addressing  both 
these  classes. 

1.  I  will  speak  to  those,  who  arc  the  children  of 

THIS  WORLD. 

You  have  perhaps  often  looked  out  to  discern  the 
face  of  the  sky,  and  the  posture  of  affairs.  No  one, 
perhaps,  will  deny  that  you  are  men  of  sense,  or  that 
you  are  men  of  science,  and  perhaps  men  of  great 
information  :  but  yet  suppose,  that,  in  conversing  with 
you,  it  was  to  be  found,  that  you  did  not  know  the  day 
of  your  visitation :  that  you  knew  nothing  of  the  spi- 
ritual or  moral  considerations,  or  signs  of  your  times ; 
that  you  had  made  no  provision  to  meet  God  or  eter- 
nity— I  know  not  a  more  deplorable  sight  on  earth, 
than  you  exhibit  ?  I  know  not  a  more  affecting  sight, 
than  a  man  of  sense  and  science,  a  man  looked  up  to, 
a  man  who  not  only  admires  himself  but  is  univer- 
sally admired  ;  and  yet  is  a  fool,  an  idiot,  in  the  sight 
of  God!  for  he  has  not  at  all  concerned  himself  about 
the  one  thing  needful — the  better  part,  that  shall  never 
be  taken  from  him ! 

The  astronomer,  who  was  examining  the  heavens, 
stumbled,  because  he  did  not  regard  his  steps  :  what 
are  men  who  are  conversant  only  with  the  prospects 
of  this  world,  which  pass  away  like  a  dream  ?  Whaf 


152 


SERMON  XV. 


are  men,  who  engage  in  no  commerce,  but  in  that  oi' 
temporal  affairs ;  and  in  no  science,  but  what  respects 
the  moment  ? 

'  Oh,  that  thou  hadst  known,'  and  wouldst  consider, 
'  at  least  in  this  thy  day,  the  things  that  belong  to  thy 
peace,'  before  '  they  are  hid  from  thine  eyes !'  for  '  this 
is  life  eternal,  to  know  the  only  true  God,  and  Jesus 
Christ  whom  he  hath  sent.' 

While,  then,  you  are  considering,  the  late  victory, 
and  swallowed  up  in  its  importance,  Oh  that  you 
would  lay  to  heart  also,  that,  unless  you  '  overcome  by 
the  blood  of  the  Lamb' and  the  powerof  his  spirit,  it  will 
only  be  a  ground  of  lamentation  to  you  to  all  eternity, 
that  you  heard  the  Gospel,  that  its  privileges  were 
afforded  to  you,  and  that,  like  the  fig-tree,  you  were 
cultured  and  manured  in  vain  !  for  God  saith  of  his 
ancient  people,  '  You,  of  all  nations  upon  the  earth, 
have  I  known  :  therefore  will  I  punish  you.'  May  you 
lay  this  to  heart ;  and  pray  earnestly  to  God,  that  you 
may  '  know  the  day  of  your  visitation,'  the  '  Sign  of 
your  times,  and  the  things  that  belong  to  your  peace.' . 

2.  Children  of  light  !  you  have  prayed  for  your 
country  !  Your  prayers  have  been  answered !  it  is  yet 
preserved  !  God  hath  stretched  out  his  arm,  in  its  de- 
fence :  and  therefore  you  have  been  encouraged  to 
persevere  in  prayer.  Cease  not,  but  still  pray.  Beg 
of  him  to  put  forth  his  mighty  arm  ;  and  to  supply  that 
strength  and  wisdom,  which  man  cannot  supply. 

While  others  scorn  your  principles,  and  misunder- 
stand you,  and  are  not  concerned  in  your  griefs,  re- 
member that  in  the  ninth  chapter  of  Ezekiel,  a  grand 
distinction  is  made  between  those  who  lament  over  the 
evils  of  the  Times,  and  those  who  do  not. 

God  is  evidently  doing  a  strange  work  in  the  earth, 
far  beyond  our  comprehension.  It  would  be  mere 
vanity  to  conjecture  his  designs.  Yet  your  duty  is 
plain  : — '  Let  your  loins  be  girded  about,  and  your 
lights  burning ;  and  ye  yourselves  like  unto  men,  that 


SIGNS  OF  THE  TIMES. 


153 


wait  for  their  Lord,  when  he  will  return  from  the  wed- 
ding. Blessed  are  those  servants,  whom  the  Lord, 
when  he  cometh,  shall  tind  watching :  verily  I  say  unto 
you,  that  he  shall  gird  himself,  and  make  them  to  s\i 
down  to  meat,  and  will  come  forth,  and  serve  them. 
And  if  he  shall  come  in  the  second  watch,  or  come 
in  the  third  watch,  and  find  them  so,  blessed  are  those 
servants.  Be  ye,  therefore,  ready  also  :  for  the  Son 
of  Man  cometh  at  an  hour  when  ye  think  not.' 

This  it  is,  to  know  the  true  Signs  of  the  Times. 
This  it  is,  to  be  found  in  your  place.  This  it  is,  to  bo 
ready  to  meet  every  event.  And,  that  it  may  please 
God  to  influence  your  hearts  to  this  end,  I  most  ear- 
nestly beseech  him  for  his  infinite  mercy's  sake! 
\men. 


s  or,.  II. 


SERMON  XVl 


DUTY  OF  WATCHFULNESS. 

Mark,  xiii,  35,  36,  37. 

Watcli  yc  therefore  :  for  ye  know  not  when  the  majter  of  the  lioiisf 
Cometh  ;  at  even  or  at  midnight,  or  at  the  cock-crowing,  or  in  tht 
morning ;  lest,  coming  suddenly,  he  find  you  sleeping.  And  what  I 
say  unto  you,  I  say  unto  all.  Watch. 

As  in  a  General  Dispensary,  there  are  medicines  for 
all  cases :  so  in  the  Grand  Moral  Dispensary  of  the 
.Scriptures,  while  there  are  recipes  for  particular  com- 
plaints, there  are  some  which  are  always  suitable,  al- 
ways in  season.  The  text  is  one.  Whether  a  tem- 
poral event  of  great  importance  is  approaching— - 
whether  an  event  extremely  momentous,  like  death,  is 
at  hand — whether  the  day  is  coming,  which  is  eternally 
to  determine  our  state, — more  suitable  counsel  cannot 
be  given,  than  that  which  is  given  in  the  text.  '  Watch!" 
for  •  the  master  of  the  house  cometh  if  he  finds  you 
sleeping,  he  finds  you  in  a  state  of  perdition.  And 
that  which  may  be  said  to  any  particular  class  of  per- 
sons, about  to  meet  such  an  event  as  the  destruction  ol 
Jerusalem,  may  be  said  to  every  one  ready  to  meet  a 
still  greater — '  What  I  say  unto  you,  I  say  unto  all. 
Watch.' 

1 .  Let  us  notice  the  warning  here  given  :  '  The 
Son  of  Man  is  a  man  taking  a  far  journey,  who  lefi 
his  house,  and  gave  authority  to  his  servants,  and  to 
every  man  his  work,  and  commanded  the  porter  to 
watch for  he  will  shortly  return. 

2.  Let  us  regard  the  cautiox  :  '  Lest,  coming  sud- 
denly, he  find  you  sleeping.' 


DUTY  OF  WATCHFl  L.NEss 


3.  Let  US  attend  to  the  means  which  we  should  use. 
lest  we  should  be  found  sleeping :  '  What  I  say  unto 
you,  I  say  unto  all,  Watch.' 

I.  Let  us  notice  the  WARNING  here  given. 

No  man,  but  those  pitiable  creatures,  Infidels  and 
Scoffers,  questions  for  a  moment  whether  death  and 
judgment  stand  before  him ;  and  therefore  he  cannot 
for  a  moment  doubt  whether  this  warning  is  not  of  the 
last  importance.  Though  there  are  many  remarkaljle 
periods  in  the  life  of  man,  though  there  are  many 
surprising  vicissitudes  and  revolutions  in  states  and 
kingdoms,  yet  what  are  they  all  to  this  ? 

Death  and  judgment  are  inevitable,  surprising,  and 
sudden.  Whether  a  man  thinks  of  it  or  not,  things 
are  in  progress — the  day  is  coming  on — the  decree  is 
past :  and  though,  '  of  that  day  and  hour  knoweth  no 
man,  no,  not  the  angels  in  heaven,'  still  it  is  as  cer- 
tainly fixed  as  the  day  in  which  God  created  man. 

I  do  not  intend  to  dwell  on  this  part  of  my  subject. 
The  idea  of  the  Day  of  Judgment  is  firmly  fixed  in 
the  mind  of  every  thinking  man.  Yet  it  is  too  grand 
for  his  comprehension.  When,  therefore,  the  poet, 
the  orator,  or  the  painter  attempts  to  exhibit  to  us  the 
terrors  of  that  day  he  must  fail.  The  description  bes< 
calculated  to  meet  the  comprehension  of  man,  is  given 
by  our  Lord,  when  he  speaks  of  a  king  coming  and 
separating  all  nations,  as  a  shepherd  divides  the  sheep 
from  the  goats  :  placing  the  sheep  at  his  right  hand, 
and  the  goats  at  his  left,  he  says  to  the  one,  '  Come  ye 
blessed  of  my  Father,  inherit  the  kingdom  prepared 
for  you  ;'  and,  to  the  other,  'Go,  ye  cursed,  into  ever- 
lasting fire !' 

Great  use  may,  however,  be  made  of  this  awful 
event,  however  incapable  we  are  of  describing  it  in 
detail.  Let  us  give  it  prominence  in  our  minds,  when 
we  would  ascertain  the  weight  and  worth  of  the  things 
of  time. 

I  hear  reports  flying  through  the  world.    One  says. 


156 


SERMON  XVI. 


"  Thh  is  great :  that  is  noble."  Another  says,  "  This  j 
or  that  is  of  vast  importance."  But  if  we  would 
know  what  is  the  real  value  of  these  things,  let  us  ap- 
ply them  to  the  standard.  Bring  those  things,  which 
are  deemed  vast  and  noble,  to  the  test  of  the  Greal 
Day ;  how  insignificant  is  every  thing  called  great  in 
this  world ! 

But,  as  Death  leaves  a  man,  so  Judgment  must  find 
him.  As  one  single  moment,  therefore,  may  place  u;- 
in  our  final  state, — as.  this  very  night,  our  souls  may 
be  required  of  us, — as  God  has  not  said  to  the  holiest 
of  his  servants,  "  Thou  shalt  live  an  hour,"  nor 
■'  Thou  shalt  live  a  minute  ;"  we  may  feel  the  force  ol 
this  general  warning  in  the  text,  •  What  I  say  unto 
you,  I  say  unto  3  0U  all.  Watch :'  for  '  the  Son  of  Man 
is  as  -a  man  taking  a  far  journey,  who  left  his  house, 
and  gave  authority  to  his  servants,  and  to  every  man 
his  work,  and  commanded  the  porter  to  watch. 
Watch  ye.  therefore  :  for  ye  know  not  when  the  Mas- 
ter of  the  House  cometh.' 

Brethren !  multitudes  have  heard  this  warning  in 
this  place,  who  are  now  in  full  possession  of  the  fact : 
they  now  experimentally  know  these  things  to  be  true. 
Could  we  ask  these  persons  their  sentiments,  now  thai 
they  have  entered  the  eternal  world  by  death,  and 
stand  waiting  ready  for  the  judgment  to  come,  is  there 
one  of  them,  think  you.  who  would  come  forward,  and 
say,  While  I  was  lining  on  earth,  the  preacher  was 
too  urgent :  he  was  too  close  on  the  conscience  ?"  Is 
there  one  of  them,  who  sees  not  now  the  vast  impor- 
tance of  a  single  Sabbath,  or  of  a  single  sermon  !  h 
there  one  who  would  not  consider  neglect  of  the  Bible 
as  the  greatest  act  of  rashness,  of  which  a  rational 
creature  could  be  guilty  — That  God  should  speak  to 
man,  and  that  man  would  not  hear  him !  Is  there  one. 
who  would  not  consider  a  Throne  of  Grace  as  of  the 
highest  concern — to  have  an  opportunity  of  speaking 


i 


DUTY  OP  WATCHFULNESS. 


15T 


to  God?  Or  do  you  imagine  that  any  complain  that, 
while  living,  they  watched  too  painfully  ? 

Oh,  let  us  listen  to  this  warning,  given  to  us  by  our 
Blessed  Master  and  Redeemer.  In  love  to  the  souls 
of  men  it  was,  that  he  left  this  warning  behind  him. 

II.  Let  us  notice  the  CAUTION :  '  Lest,  coming 
suddenly,  he  find  you  sleeping.' 

I  cannot  suppose  that  there  is  one  of  my  hearers, 
who  will  mistake  the  meaning  of  the  expression,  and 
think  that  it  is  to  .be  taken  in  a  literal  sense.  The 
man,  who  is  truly  alive  to  God,  will  be  ready  to  meet 
his  God,  though,  while  asleep  in  his  bed,  the  '  heavens- 
should  '  melt  with  fervent  heat,'  and  '  pass  away  with 
a  great  noise.' 

The  expression  is  a  metaphor  taken  from  sleep. 
The  Scriptures  speak  of  the  careless  and  the  wicked 
as  of  one  asleep,  who  pays  no  attention  to  the  most 
important  concerns  around  him.  For  instance :  a 
man  may  find  his  house  safe — all  calm  and  quiet :  he 
retires — lays  him  down  on  his  bed  with  great  satisfac- 
tion— falls  into  refreshing  sleep,  as  he  has  done  innu- 
merable nights  before.  While  he  sleeps  safely  and 
sweetly,  perhaps  a  robber  plunders  the  house  :  he  is 
insensible  of  the  injury :  he  is  asleep  !  The  robber 
may  enter  his  chamber,  and  may  put  a  knife  to  his 
throat ;  but  the  man  sleeps  on  !  He  mayset  the  house 
in  flames — the  man  sleeps  on !  no  sense  of  danger ! 
Or  a  mighty  wind  may  shake  the  house  to  the  founda- 
tion— but  he  sleeps  on  !  I  said  that  the  sleeper  was  all 
this  time  insensible :  but  possibly  he  may  not  be 
wholly  so  ;  for,  though  unconscious  of  his  danger,  he 
may  be  running  abroad  in  delightful  dreams — advan- 
cing to  honour — abounding  in  wealth — entering  into 
some  scene  of  pleasure — or  standing  on  some  rock, 
where  nothing  can  touch  him  ! 

How  faithful  a  picture  is  this  of  Carnal  Security  ! 
what  our  Lord  here  speaks  of  as  the  master  of  the 
house  coming  suddenly,  and  finding  his  servants  sleep- 


158 


SERMO-N  X\  1. 


ing.  In  this  precise  state  does  the  thoughtless  sinner 
stand.  All  the  great  promises  of  this  book  are  no- 
thing! Its  awful  threatenings  are  all  as  nothing  I 
Though  Satan  is  ruining  and  destroying  him.  and 
flames  are  about  to  surround  him,  yet  he  is  insensible 
— he  dreams  of  nothing  but  honour,  or  riches,  or 
pleasure ! 

Would  the  enemy  of  such  a  sleeper  wish  him  to  be 
disturbed  ?  "  No !  let  him  sleep  on  ;  for  sleeping  will 
be  his  destruction.  Make  no  noise !  Shake  not  hi? 
bed!    Let  him  rest  and  sleep  on  I" 

Nay,  the  poor  stupid  sleeper  would  not  bear,  per- 
haps, to  be  roused  :  he  would  be  offended  and  feel 
insulted,  if  a  friend  were  to  alarm  him.  Is  not  this 
the  case  with  every  careless  sinner  ?  No  one  offends 
more  than  the  friend,  who  would  awaken  and  rouse 
him.  and  alarm  his  conscience. 

Let  me  ask  another  question  :  Would  not  the  real 
friend  of  every  such  sleeper  rouse  him.  whatever 
might  be  the  consequence  ?  though  he  should  put  him 
to  pain — though  he  should  excite  evil  tempers — though 
be  should  be  thought  guilty  of  rudeness  ?  "  Yes !" 
says  he  :  "  at  any  rate  I  will  awake  him  :  for,  if  he  is 
not  roused,  he  is  lost  for  ever!  Tell  me  not  of  rude- 
ness. Tell  me  not  of  the  late  time  of  the  night.  1 
must  awake  the  man,  or  he  is  for  ever  lost." 

Our  Lord  lays  the  stress  on  coming  suddenly  ;  lest, 
coming  suddexly,  he  find  you  sleeping.  And,  though 
a  man  may  not  be  arrested  by  what  is  called  sudden 
death  ;  though  death  may  begin  in  what  is  cabled  "  a 
slight  cold;"  yet  death  has  entered  the  house:  he 
cannot  be  bribed  :  he  cannot  be  driven  away  :  he  goes 
forward  :  and  the  man  is  but  a  dead  man.  though  he 
appears  to  be  slightly  indisposed :  death  has  entered 
the  house,  and  that  slight  indisposition  will  lead  on  to 
a  fatal  close ! 

My  dear  hearers,  1  am  speaking  of  plain  facts. 
Here  are  no  disputable  doctrine? :  here  are  no  nice 


DUTY  OF  AVATCIIFULNESS.  159 


points  of  discussion :  this  is  broad  ground  which  re- 
spects every  man  on  earth.  And  if  young  men  sleep 
at  their  posts,  and  if  old  men  sleep  on  the  brink  of 
the  grave,  shall  we  administer  opiates  to  them  ?  Do 
they  not  need?  'Awake!  thou  that  sleepest,  and 
arise  from  the  dead,  and  Christ  shall  give  thee  light  ?' 
Oh,  may  every  such  sleeper  be  roused  to  cry,  '  Open 
thou  mine  eyes,  O  Lord,  lest  I  sleep  the  sleep  of 
death!' 

In  such  a  case  as  this — infinite  in  importance-— 
evidenced  by  daily  facts — not  one  of  us  secure  of  life 
for  a  moment — every  man  standing  on  the  brink  of 
eternity — how  valuable  is  wise  counsel !  And  such 
counsel  we  have  from  Christ :  for  these  are  his  words  : 
'  Take  ye  heed  :  watch  and  pray.'  Was  it  needful  that 
his  hearers  should  be  thus  warned  on  the  approach- 
ing destruction  of  Jerusalem  ?  of  how  much  more 
importance  is  the  warning  to  us,  who  must  soon  wit- 
ness '  the  heavens  and  the  earth  passing  away  with'  a 
great  noise,  and  the  elements  melting  with  fervent 
heat,'  and  the  'great  white  throne'  set  up  in  the 
heavens  ? 

When  death  comes  on  a  man,  and  lodges  him  in  a 
state  in  which  he  must  meet  judgment,  then  he  will 
experimentally  find  that  '  the  Son  of  Man  is  as  a  man 
taking  a  far  journey,  who  left  his  house,  and  gave  au- 
thority to  his  servants,  and  to  every  man  his  work, 
and  commanded  the  porter  to  watch,'  for  he  would 
shortly  return.  '  Take  ye  heed,'  he  says,  '  lest, 
coming  suddenly,  he  find  you  sleeping.'  To  a  man 
awakened  by  grace,  sudden  death  will  be  sudden 
glory ;  but  take  heed,  lest  he  come  and  find  you 
sleeping  and  dreaming. 

111.  This  leads  us  to  the  third  consideration  :  the 
MEANS  which  we  should  use,  lest  we  should  be 
found  sleeping.  '  Watch  !  for  ye  know  not  when  the 
Master  of  the  House  cometh.' 

This  counsel  is  exactly  suited  to  our  state  and  con- 


160 


dition :  for  who  is  able  to  meet  the  snares  with  which 
we  are  surrounded,  and  which  are  far  above  even  his 
comprehension  ?  Who  is  able  to  meet  the  tempta- 
tions of  a  practised  veteran  in  destruction,  hke  Sa- 
tan ?  Who  can  understand  even  his  own  wander- 
ings ?  Who  can  avoid  the  various  errors  flying  around 
him,  which  would  deceive,  if  it  were  possible,  the  very 
elect?  What,  in  such  a  case,  is  suited  to  our  charac- 
ter and  circumstances  ?  I  answer,  Exertion — Vigi- 
lance— a  mind  in  arms — "  A  military  discipline  of 
thought" — ever  awake — ever  ardent  for  the  truth. 
This  becomes  the  man  ! 

I  would  here  correct  a  mistake,  with  which  some 
good  men  distress  themselves.  In  proportion  as  men 
are  anxious,  they  are  apt  to  be  jealous.  The  careless 
fear  nothing :  the  presumptuous  despise  danger :  but 
it  is  the  watchful  who  are  frequently  found  fearful, 
lest  they  should  be  found  wrong. 

"  Oh,"  says  such  an  one,  "  I  see  such  an  event  be- 
fore me.  I  see  my  precious  soul  at  stake.  'What 
shall  it  profit  me,  if  1  gain  the  whole  world,  and  lose 
my  own  soul  ?  or  what  shall  I  give  in  exchange  for  my 
soul  ?'  Every  thing  else  is  comparatively  nothing. 
When  I  look  on  the  world,  and  see  what  men  are  do- 
ing, 1  see  it  to  be  a  miracle  of  grace,  that  God  should 
deliver  me  from  their  infatuations.  They  think  of 
nothing:  their  talk  is  vanity:  they  are  magnifying 
straws  and  atoms :  they  are  like  children  at  play, 
while  that  precious  soul  of  man,  which  must  live 
with  God,  or  with  condemned  spirits  for  ever,  is  dis- 
regarded." 

Now  this  man  is  fearful,  lest  he  should  be  off  his 
guard ;  lest  he  should  lose  his  impressions ;  lest  he 
should  get  too  much  into  the  spirit  of  the  world;  lest 
he  should  be  carried  away  by  its  vanities.  To  such 
an  one,  therefore,  I  would  say — "You  are  in  no  dan- 
ger, while  you  are  anxious.  While  watching,  you 
may  be  alarmed  ;  you  may  fancy  that  the  enemy  will 


DUTY  OF  WATCHFULNESS. 


161 


rush  on  you  with  more  power  than  will  be  given  him  : 
you  are  ever  anxious  :  and  this  is  the  work  of  God,  to 
keep  you  awake  in  the  midst  of  a  dreaming  world." 

"  How,  then,"  say  you,  "can  we  perceive  when  there 
are  morbid  symptoms,  in  such  a  case  as  this  ?" 

I  answer — When  you  see  a  man  at  perfect  ease  on 
this  subject — when  you  hear  any  one  talk  presumptu- 
ously, that,  by-and-by,  he  will  think  of  repentance, 
prayer,  and  watchfulness — when  you  hear  an  old  man 
stubborn,  and  conceited  of  his  zeal  in  religion  because 
he  has  some  right  notions.  Do  you  observe  a  person, 
who,  instead  of  seriously  thinking  of  our  Lord's  de- 
clarations, says,  "  This  is  alarming !  I  cannot  bear  it ! 
ft  gives  me  offence,"  that  man  is  in  a  morbid  state. 
T)o  you  hear  another  say,  "  Let  me  go  Jirst  and  bury 
my  father  :  I  have  married  a  wife  :  1  have  something 
else  first  to  do  ?"  these  are  morbid  symptoms. 

Yet,  though  we  are  expressly  charged  to  be  on  our 
watch,  let  us  not  mistake,  as  if  that  were  sufficient : 
for,  however  we  may  put  ourselves  on  exertion,  our 
vigilance,  if  we  are  left  to  ourselves,  will  fail.  The 
most  active  and  vigilant  General  has  been  sometimes 
ensnared  in  an  ambush,  or  blown  up  by  a  mine  insidi- 
ously prepared  under  his  feet.  Vigilance,  alone,  will 
not  save !  Our  Lord  has  therefore  said,  Watch  and 
pray. 

Here  is  the  patience  of  the  saints,  in  carrying  their 
petitions,  day  after  day,  to  their  Great  Lord.  Here  is 
their  wisdom  :  knowing  their  weakness,  their  petition 
is,  "  Hold  thou  me  up,  and  I  shall  be  safe  :  keep  me, 
and  1  shall  be  kept :  enable  me  to  watch,  and  1  shall 
watch.  But,  if  thou  leavest  me  a  moment,  I  fall." 
Here  is  the  strength  of  the  saints  :  here  they  are  taught 
of  God  to  suspect  every  exertion  they  can  make. 

In  a  word,  Brethren,  while  our  Lord  gives  us  coun- 
sel in  this  most  important  concern,  he  tells  us,  at  the 
same  time,  to  remember  that  nothing  is  done  to  pur- 
pose in  Christianity,  till  we  give  him  the  whole  glory 

VOt.   II.  IT} 


162 


of  sending  the  truth,  and  giving  efficacy  to  it  by  th^ 
power  of  his  Holy  Spirit.  This  is  pecuhar  to  hi? 
character.  I  can  speak  to  you,  but  I  cannot  infuse  a 
principle.  The  apostle  could  say,  '  1  would  to  God 
ihat  ye  were  altogether  such  as  I  am,  except  these 
bonds  :'  but  the  Apostle  could  not  give  grace,  to  ren- 
der them  such  who  heard  him  :  but  our  Holy  Master, 
who  taught  these  truths,  can  give  the  grace,  and  must 
have  all  the  glory  ;  so  that  from  beginning  to  end,  from 
first  to  last,  we  must  sing,  '  Worthy  is  the  Lamb  that 
was  slain,  and  hath  redeemed  us  to  God  by  his  blood  !' 

We  must  cry  after  him,  then,  as  he  passes  by  in  his 
ordinances.  Like  the  leper  we  must  call  on  him, 
'  Jesus,  Master,  have  mercy  on  us  :  or-,  as  the  sick  oi' 
the  palsy,  we  must  look  to  him  to  say, '  Arise  :  take 
up  thy  bed  and  walk.' 

I  will  only  add  this  remark,  that  there  is  such  a 
thing — and  I  would  to  God  that  I  had  not  both  seen  and 
heard  of  it  in  many  instances,  and  marked  its  direful 
effects  too — there  is  such  a  thing  as  Spiritual  Quack- 
ery, as  well  as  Medical  Quackery  ;  such  a  thing  a^ 
healing  the  hurt  slightly  ;  imposing  on  the  sick  man  ; 
'  daubing  the  wall  with  untempered  mortar,  and  crying 
Peace,  Peace.'  That  we  should  not  be  deceived  in  a 
matter  of  such  importance  as  this  before  us,  here 
stands  the  Great  Physician  of  soul  and  body.  '•  1 
give  you,"  as  if  he  had  said,  "  a  plain  account  ot 
v.'hat  is  coming  on,  and  plain  counsel  how  to  meet  it. 
You  must  hope  to  get  forward  through  time  into  a 
blessed  eternity,  by  faith  and  patience,  by  watchfulness 
and  prayer."  And  though  it  may  be  scorned  by  the 
proud  and  slighted  by  the  ignorant,  yet  I  pray  God  that 
you  and  I  may  remember  this  counsel  of  Jesus  Christ, 
who  best  knows  how  to  preach  his  own  gospel. 
••  This,"  says  he,  is  the  method  which  I  set  before 
my  disciples.  Since  they  know  not  when  their  time 
ends,  since  I  come  suddenly  like  a  master  who  has 
taken  a  far  journey  from  home,  let  them  watch  and 
pray.    What  I  fa^f  nnto  yon,  I  say  unto  all,  Watch.'' 


DUTY  OF  WATCHFULNESS. 


163 


My  dear  hearers,  I  may  be  called  in  a  moment  to 
render  an  account  of  the  advice  which  I  am  now  giv- 
ing to  you  ;  and  nothing  but  the  special  hand  of  God 
prevented  my  being  called  to  give  account  of  my  min- 
istry before  this  day  :*  but,  if  I  am  spared  a  little  lon- 
ger to  speak  these  words  after  my  Master,  let  us  ipray 
that  his  grace  may  rest  on  us  ;  and  that  both  Minister 
and  People  may  stir  up  one  another  ;  and  that,  in  the 
day  of  his  coming,  instead  of  finding  us  sleeping,  our 
lights  may  be  burning,  our  loins  girded,  and  we  our- 
selves like  men  who  wait  for  the  coming  of  their  Lord. 

*  This  sermon  was  preached  soon  after  Mr.  Cecil  had  escaped  im- 
minent danger  of  death,  by  his  horse  falling  in  frosty  weather  in  the 
-treet.  J.  r. 


SERMON  XVIl. 


THE  ANGEL'S  SONG. 

Luke,  ii,  13,  14. 

Aui3  suddenly  there  was  with  the  Angel  a  Multitude  of  the  Heaveiil\ 
Host,  praising  God,  and  saying,  Glory  to  God  in  the  Highest,  ane 
on  Earth  Peace,  Good  Will  toward  Men. 

It  is  a  lamentable  consideration  how  little  man  is  dis- 
posed to  consider  those  special  and  important  truths, 
which  God  has  revealed  to  him  for  his  benefit. 

In  respect  to  the  passage  before  us,  for  instance,  a 
Philosopher  reads  it: — "  Now,"  says  he,  "let  us  in- 
quire whether  this  was  an  impression  made  on  the 
minds  of  these  shepherds,  or  whether  it  was  an  actual 
vision  presented  to  them :"  and  thus  he  spends  his 
time  in  empty  speculations.  A  Painter  reads  the  pas- 
sage : — "I  could  very  much  wish,"  says  he,  "that  1 
had  been  there,  to  have  caught  an  idea  from  that 
scene."  A  Musician  reads  it: — "I  should  exceed- 
ingly like,"  says  he,  "  to  have  heard  this  harmony, 
and  to  have  examined  how  far  it  agreed  with  our  pre- 
sent rules  :"  but  since  this  is  impossible,  he  sits  down, 
turns  it  into  music,  and  puts  it  into  a  song;  not  con- 
sidering what  important  lessons  it  contains.  A  critical 
Divine  reads  it: — "This,"  says  he,  "is  a  singular 
event ;  and  it  will  lead  me  to  consider  the  ministry 
of  angels,  and  whether  it  has  totally  ceased  in  our 
day  or  not." 

Thus  men  trifle  with  the  Word  of  God !  A  real 
Christian  alone  makes  a  proper  use  of  such  a  passage. 
He  asks  his  conscience,  "  What  am  I  to  learn  froni 


THE  AiNGEL'S  SONG. 


165 


this  ?  What  instruction  and  encouragement  does  it 
afford  ?" 

I  shall  treat  it  only  in  this  way  :  I  speak,  there- 
fore, only  to  such  as  have  ears  to  hear  to  that 
{)urposc. 

1.  Let  us  CONSIDER  THE  PASSAGE,  AS  IT  LIES  BE- 
FORE  US   IN   THE  HISTORY. 

2.  Let  us  improve  it  by  some  practical  remarks. 
I.  Consider  the  HISTORY  before  us. 

The  Evangelist  informs  us,  that,  on  the  birth  ot 
Christ,  '  There  were  in  the  same  country  shepherds, 
abiding  in  the  fields,  keeping  watch  over  their  flock 
by  night.'  Business,  you  see,  is  honourable.  Moses 
was  in  his  employment,  when  the  vision  was  mani- 
lested  to  him  in  the  bush.  David  was  in  his  employ- 
ment, when  called  to  a  kingdom.  Elisha  was  at  the 
plough,  when  called  to  be  a  prophet.  God  puts 
honour  on  that  employment,  which  is  lawful  and 
innocent. 

The  Evangelist  informs  us  also,  that  '  the  angel  of 
the  Lord  came  upon  them,  and  the  glory  of  the  Lord 
shone  round  about  them,  and  they  were  sore  afraid.' 
An  angel  once  cut  off  one  hundred  and  forty-four 
thousand  men,  in  one  night :  no  wonder,  therefore, 
that  these  shepherds  were  alarmed  at  the  presence  of 
an  angel. 

'And  tiie  angel  said  unto  them,  Fear  not!  for,  be- 
hold, I  bring  you  good  tidings  of  great  joy,  which 
shall  be  to  all  people  :  for  unto  you  is  born  this  day, 
in  the  city  of  David,  a  Saviour,  which  is  Christ  the 
Lord:' — a  Saviour — one  who  can  perfectly  emanci- 
pate you  from  the  snares  and  power  of  Satan ;  who 
can  deliver  you  from  the  guilt  and  dominion  of  sin, 
and  from  the  fear  and  power  of  death.  "  To  vou  is 
born,  not  to  us  ;"  as  if  the  angel  had  said  :  "  We  are  ho- 
noured with  bearing  the  message,  but  we  have  no  in- 
terest in  the  truth :  we  are  not  fallen  creatures.    '  To 

VOL.  n.  1 5* 


166 


SERMON  XVII. 


you  is  born  a  Saviour,  which  is  Christ  the  Lord.* 
Each  word  is  truth :  therefore  you  may  give  it  unh- 
mited  confidence.  There  is  almighty  power,  for  you 
to  rest  on ;  able,  therefore,  to  bear  you  up  through 
time  and  eternity.  His  heart  is  love :  he  comes, 
therefore,  to  lay  down  his  life  for  you.  And  he  is 
Christ  the  Lord  :  '  God  with  us  he,  whose  '  name,' 
is  'Wonderful,  Counsellor,  the  Mighty  God,  the 
Everlasting  Father,  the  Prince  of  Peace :  to  you," 
therefore,  '  is  born  this  day  a  Saviour,  which  is  Chrisi 
the  Lord.' " 

But  where  is  this  Saviour  to  be  found  ?  Not  in 
kings'  courts:  not  in  the  schools  of  science:  not  in 
the  seats  of  merchandise :  but  '  this  shall  be  a  sign 
unto  you,  ye  shall  find  the  babe  wrapped  in  swad- 
dling-clothes, lying  in  a  manger.'  In  a  manger! — 
What  dark  saying  is  this  ?  '  Ye  shall  find  the  babi 
wrapped  in  swaddling-clothes,  lying  in  a  manger!' 
And  it  is  as  though  the  angel  had  said,  "  Remembei 
that  this  will  prove  a  stumbling-block  to  the  Jew,  and 
foolishness  to  the  Greek.  This  is  the  appointed  Sa- 
viour, set  forth  to  be  '  the  power  of  God  unto  salva- 
tion to  every  one  that  believeth.'^" 

Moreover,  that  such  an  one  should  come  lying  in  a 
manger — God  as  well  as  man — this  should  raise  the 
hope  of  man.  That  God  will  come  as  a  worm,  be- 
come acquainted  with  man,  that  he  might  enter  into 
his  sorrows — this  should  raise  the  hope  of  man. 
'And  suddenly  there  was  with  the  angel  a  multitude 
of  the  heavenly  host :'  for,  '  are  they  not  all  minis- 
tering spirits,  sent  forth  to  minister  unto  them  who 
shall  be  heirs  of  salvation  ?'  When  the  foundation^ 
of  the  earth  were  laid,  'the  morning-stars  sang  toge- 
ther, and  all  the  sons  of  God  shouted  for  joy  :'  and 
when  the  earth  was  redeemed,  it  was  to  be  expected 
that  a  multitude  of  angels  would  attend  this  gracious^ 
work ;  a  multitude  of  angels  did  attend,  and  thc\ 


THE  ANGEL'S  SONG. 


167 


sung  the  song  most  appropriate  to  the  occasion, 
'  Glory  to  God  in  the  highest :  and  on  earth  peace, 
good-will  to  men.' 

To  bring  glory  to  God,  is  to  manifest  his  perfec- 
tions :  thus,  when  a  man  prays  to  God,  he  glorifie? 
him  ;  for  he  sets  forth  his  praise  as  the  hearer  and 
answerer  of  prayer:  when  a  man  praises  God,  he 
glorifies  him ;  as  he  sets  him  forth  as  the  object  ol 
adoration. 

Now  in  the  work  of  Redemption,  there  was  a  pecu- 
liar display  of  the  glory,  or  perfections  of  God,  in  thai 
he  manifests  his  mercy  and  grace  :  he  would  spare  no 
expense  to  recover  fallen  man :  he  would  give  '  his 
only-begotten  Son,'  that  the  law  might  be  magnified  in 
his  death.  Christ  manifested  the  Justice  of  God  :  the 
cup  could  not  pass  from  him.  He  manifested  his 
Wisdom  :  that  wisdom  which  could,  at  once,  put  the 
utmost  indignity  and  punishment  on  sin,  while  it  saved 
the  sinner.  His  Faithfulness  and  the  exceeding  riches 
of  his  Grace  are  displayed  in  Christ :  he  hath  thereby 
brought  greater  glory  to  himself  than  by  the  making 
of  ten  thousand  worlds,  which  would  have  been  mere 
objects  of  his  power. 

The  heavenly  host,  therefore,  sung  '  Glory  to  God 
ill  the  highest ;'  implying  that  the  brightest  display  ol' 
the  divine  glory  is  in  this  work  of  redemption.  And 
they  sung,  '  Peace  on  earth  :'  as  if  they  should  say, 
••  There  may  be  now  a  solid  and  soul-satisfying  state  of 
peace  between  the  Sinner  and  the  Judge.  Christ,  the 
peace-maker,  is  come :  a  firm  ground  is  now  laid  for 
peace  between  man  and  man,  between  law  and  con- 
science, between  Jew  and  Gentile :  and,  now^,  may 
discord  and  misery  cease,  happiness  and  prosperity  go 
forth  as  the  highest  expression  of  God's  good-w^ill  to 
man!  may  it  extend  through  the  world!"  It  is  the 
express  work,  therefore,  of  every  minister  of  the  Gos- 
pel, according  to  the  Apostle,  to  declare  that  '  God 
\vas  in  Christ,  reconciling  the  world  unto  himself-/ 


168 


SERMON  XVU. 


and  so  sung  the  angels  at  the  birth  of  Christ.  W( 
therefore,  are  ambassadors,  to  bring  these  things  to 
yours  ears.  '  We  bring  you  glad  tidings  :  to  you  is 
born  a  Saviour!  Glory  to  God  in  the  highest:  peact 
on  earth  :  good-will  toward  men !' 

II.  Let  us  now  make  some  PRACTICAL  RE- 
MARKS on  this  subject. 

It  has  been  observed  with  truth,  that  when  an  illite- 
rate man  becomes  pious,  receives  the  fear  and  the  love 
of  God  into  his  heart,  his  perception  is  raised  :  he  ac- 
quires a  better  moral  discernment :  he  is  exalted  by 
his  religion :  he  attains  a  right  taste.  The  Gospel  is 
directly  calculated  to  produce  these  advantages.  Now 
it  is  of  great  importance,  surely,  that  we  form  a  solid 
judgment  of  the  world  in  which  we  live,  while  it  is  bul 
a  passage  to  the  world  to  which  we  are  going.  Lei 
us  consider  the  text  in  this  view. 

1 .  Let  us  consider,  if  this  be  the  song,  and  taste, 
and  sentiment  of  heaven,  what  is  the  taste  and 

.SENTIMENT  OF  THE  MEN  OF  THE  EARTH  WHO  CALL 
THEMSELVES  WISE,  AND  CALL  US  FOOLS  FOR  BELIE- 
VING  THE   BIBLE  ? 

Here  is  a  standard.  We  can  form  no  right  opinion 
without  a  standard.  Here  is  one.  Angels  descend, 
and  sing,  and  declare  what  is  the  taste  and  song  and 
sentiment  of  heaven.  Here  is  a  standard :  and  we 
must  compare  with  this  standard  the  taste  and  song 
and  sentiment  of  the  men  who  call  themselves  en- 
lightened.— men  of  sense  and  learning. 

If  this,  then,  is  to  be  the  standard — and  surely  i( 
ought  to  be — it  clearly  appears  that  the  taste  and  sen- 
timent and  prevalent  maxims  of  such  men  are  utterly 
wrong — and  that  man  is  in  a  fallen  and  ruined  state. 
Here  is  a  remedy  proclaimed,  of  the  noblest  kind,  for 
time  and  for  eternity  :  and  what  do  men  say  concern- 
ing this  remedy  ? — what  regard  do  they  pay  to  it — 
how  do  they  treat  it,  and  those  who  trust  in  God 
tlirough  it  ?  Brethren !  you  know  how  they  speak  : 


THE  ANGEL'S  SONG. 


169 


you  see  how  they  act :  and  we  are  compelled  continu- 
ally to  adopt  the  prophet's  exclamation,  '  Who  hath 
believed  our  report  ?' 

But,  while  you  have  now  heard  the  taste  and  song 
and  sentiment  of  angels,  let  us  consider  that  angels 
know  the  worth  of  an  immortal  soul ;  and  what  it  is 
for  such  a  soul  to  be  redeemed,  and  that  in  harmony 
with  the  glory  of  God.  Angels  know  the  vanity  of 
this  dying  and  wretched  world.  Angels  know  the 
misery  of  hell :  they  know  the  worm  that  never  dies, 
and  the  fire  that  never  will  be  quenched.  Angels 
know  the  glory,  and  taste,  and  song,  and  sentiment  of 
heaven :  and  therefore  it  was  impossible,  if  an  angel 
was  to  express  his  sentiments  on  this  subject,  that  il 
should  be  in  any  other  language  than  that  of  the  text. 

This  is  the  mind  of  heaven — the  mind  of  God! 
Consider,  then,  what  is  the  state  of  that  mind,  which 
opposes  or  neglects  these  glad  tidings.  You  cannot 
appeal  to  such  a  mind  :  the  man  is  blind,  and  misera- 
ble, and  stripped  of  all  that  can  be  called  excellent. 
Should  any  such  person  be  present,  I  can  only  say, 
Awake  from  thy  sleep — thy  death !  Awake  from  these 
dreams  of  comfort  or  happiness  in  the  world!  It  is 
impossible  you  should  be  under  a  greater  infatuation, 
than  to  seek  the  living  among  the  dead. 

2.  We  learn  from  the  song  of  these  angels,  that  no 

GOOD-WILL  FROM  HEAVEN  CAN  BE  COMMUNICATED 
TO  MAN,  NOR  ANY  PEACE  ON  EARTH,  BUT  WHAT  IS 
CONSISTENT   WITH   THE   GLORY   OF  GOD. 

For  they  sung,  '  Glory  to  God  in  the  highest then, 
'peace  on  earth,  good-will  toward  men.'  That  must 
be  in  Christ — in  submitting  to  the  Gospel :  for  there 
is  no  good-will  to  men  nor  peace  on  earth,  but  in  a 
■way  honourable  to  God,  and  consistent  with  his  glory. 

A  sinner  cares  not  for  the  honour  and  glory  of  God. 
nor  heeds  what  outrages  are  committed  on  the  Divine 
Government :  "  Only,"  says  he,  "  let  me  have  peace 
and  enjoy  good!"    What!  in  defiance  of  the  Jus! 


170 


SERMON  XVII. 


Governor  of  Heaven  and  Earth  ? — But  mercy  and 
truth  must  meet  together:  they  do  meet  together  in  re- 
demption. Righteousness  and  peace  must  kiss  each 
other:  they  do  kiss  each  other  in  this  scheme  of  re- 
demption ;  but  on  no  other  scheme  :  so  that  St.  Paul 
might  well  say,  '  If  an  angel  from  heaven  preach  any 
other  gospel,  let  him  be  accursed.'  Christ  came  to 
make  peace  in  a  way  honourable  to  God  :  he  bought 
that  peace  :  he  bequeaths  it :  he  gives  it  freely.  Let 
then  the  sinner  wage  war  no  longer  against  God 
and  conscience,  but  thankfully  accept  the  inestimable 
gift. 

You,  who,  at  present,  stand  at  a  distance  beholding 
these  blessings  with  indifference,  or  trying  to  kindle 
some  sparks  of  enjoyment — something  to  render  you 
happy  without  Christ  and  redemption — without  God'g 
peace  and  good-will  towards  men — remember,  that, 
while  God  meets  your  condition  and  stoops  to  your 
necessities,  is  manifest  in  flesh,  stands  at  the  door  and 
knocks,  and  says,  '  Ho !  every  one,  that  thirsteth, 
come  ye  to  the  waters' — while  he  does  this,  do  you 
think  that  your  trampling  on  these  blessings  and  neg- 
lecting so  great  salvation,  will  not  meet  its  due  reward  ? 
Do  you  suppose  there  is  no  justice  or  truth  in  the  gov- 
ernment of  God? — that  all  order  will  be  destroyed, 
that  you  may  be  excused  ?  I  would  call  on  you  this 
night,  in  compassion.  God  invites  all  that  thirst  to 
come  to  the  waters.  I  pray  that  the  Holy  Spirit  may 
open  the  eyes  of  your  understanding,  that  you  may  no 
longer  judge  yourselves  unworthy  of  eternal  life:  for, 
while  you  linger,  Satan  is  gaining  his  grand  point : 
and  God  is  perhaps  about  to  say  in  his  wrath,  '  They 
shall  never  enter  into  my  rest.' 

3.  It  appears  from  the  language  and  song  of 
the  angels,  that  herein  are  afforded  sufficient 

ENCOURAGEMENT  AND  DIRECTION  TO  EVERY  BELIEV- 
ING HEART. 

Here  are  the  premises:  what  is  the  inference  i* 


THE  ANGEL'S  SONG. 


171 


If  a  multitude  of  angels  descend,  and  sing,  'Glory 
to  God  in  the  highest;  peace  on  earth,  and  good- 
will toward  men :'  if  they  come,  and  declare  on 
God's  authority,  that  there  is  glory  brought  to 
God  in  the  highest  by  the  redemption  of  Christ, 
a  proclamation  of  peace  on  earth,  and  the  utmost 
expression  of  good-will  to  men :  what  is  the  infe- 
rence ?  that  a  man  should  go  home,  saying,  "  I 
know  not  how  I  can  be  saved!  My  sins  are  like 
crimson,  therefore  there  is  no  such  thing  as  washing 
them  away!  I  believe  that  only  the  elect  will  be 
saved !"  and  so — -just  as  Satan  would  have  it — 
they  are  turning  the  counsel  of  God  against  them- 
selves. But,  brethren,  here  is  a  plain  passage  of 
Scripture  before  us  to-night,  which  implies  sufficient 
direction  and  encouragement  to  every  humble  and 
believing  heart. 

Now,  while  this  was  singing  in  the  field,  and  the 
shepherds  were  following  the  instructions  of  the  an- 
gels, what  was  the  spirit  prevailing  at  Jerusalem,  and 
the  traffic  carried  on  there  ?  The  busy  crowds  were 
regarding  only  their  own  affairs — how  far  the  Roman 
power  would  be  prejudicial  to  them  in  the  end — the 
best  means  to  guard  against  it — and  how  to  erect 
themselves  into  a  people  of  consequence  as  they  had 
once  been:  the- Scribes  and  Pharisees  were  studying 
how  their  notions  were  to  be  supported :  the  men  of 
business  were  rising  early,  sitting  up  late,  and  thinking 
that  the  one  thing  needful  was  gain  :  the  men  of  plea- 
sure and  delicacy  were  saying,  "  Let  the  common 
people  expect  the  Messiah :  let  us  retire  to  our  en- 
joyments." 

Was  this  the  case  with  Jerusalem  ?  Is  it  not  a  pic- 
ture of  London  also  ? 

In  the  mean  time,  the  humble  shepherds  were  re- 
ceiving the  visits  of  angels,  and  the  Gospel  was  preach- 
ed to  the  poor.  They  accepted  the  Gospel :  it  spread 
from  one  to  another,  and  from  nation  to  nation,  till  it 


172 


SERMON  XVII. 


eovered  the  greatest  part  of  the  earth :  it  hath  with- 
stood all  the  power  of  hell :  it  withstands  it  at  this 
hour :  yet  London  goes  on  just  as  it  did  ! 

What  should  each  of  us  say  to  this,  but,  "  O  God 
dehver  n\e  from  the  spirit  of  a  carnal  and  unbelieving 
worldly  generation !  O  Lord,  grant  that  I  may  escape 
thy  wrath,  and  tread  the  narrow  way  that  leads  to 
eternal  life !" 

Is  there  in  the  congregation  an  humble  Christian, 
who  has  still  some  doubts  on  his  mind,  whether  the 
way  is  open  to  him,  to  enter  as  a  candidate  for  eternal 
life  ?  I  ask,  *'  Has  God  made  )  ou  willing  to  be  saved 
Wilt  thou  be  made  whole  ?"  Or,  are  you  saying,  "  O 
Lord,  I  desire  to  be  good,  but  not  now  ?"  Do  you 
desire  to  partake  of  the  graces  of  God's  Spirit  ?  Do 
you  desire  the  privileges  of  his  house  ?  to  be  enabled 
to  glorify  God — to  have  an  experimental  taste  of  his 
peace,  and  to  know  that  it  is  the  greatest  expression 
of  God's  good  will  to  man  ?  Then  hear  the  procla- 
mation uttered  as  in  your  ears  by  the  angels  :  and,  if 
you  cannot  trust  angels,  hear  what  Christ  says : — 
■'  Whoso  Cometh  unto  me,  I  will  in  no  wise  cast  out.' 
Take  heed  how  you  refuse  him  that  speaketh  from 
heaven,  and  who  has  positively  declared,  whosoever 
eomes  to  him  shall  be  saved.  That  you  and  I  may 
put  our  trust  in  him  that  speaketh.  may  God  grant, 
for  his  infinite  mercy's  sake  ! 


SERMON  XVIII. 


LIVING  WATER. 
John,  iv,  10. 

J'esus  answered  and  said  unto  her,  If  thou  knewest  the  gift  of  God  ; 
and  who  it  is  that  saith  to  thee,  give  me  to  drink  ;  thou  wouldsl 
have  asked  of  liim,  and  he  would  have  given  thee  living  water. 

In  condescension  to  our  weakness,  our  Blessed  Master 
has  not  only  taught  us  by  positive  Precepts  and  De- 
clarations, but  he  has  suffered  us  to  hear  his  conver- 
sations, and  to  be  acquainted  with  his  remarks  ;  so 
that  his  conduct  in  life  brings  a  kind  of  collateral  evi- 
dence to  the  truths  which  he  uttered. 

We  may  gather  from  the  statement  of  one  particu- 
lar case,  how  Christ  would  have  spoken  and  acted  in 
any  other  case  of  the  kind. 

For  instance,  our  Lord  came  'to  a  city  of  Samaria, 
which  is  called  Sychar,  near  to  the  parcel  of  ground 
that  Jacob  gave  to  his  son  Joseph.  Now  Jacob's 
well  was  there.  Jesus,  therefore,  being  wearied  with 
his  journey,  sat  thus  on  the  well :  and  it  was  about  the 
sixth  hour.  There  cometh  a  woman  of  Samaria  to 
draw  water  :  Jesus  saith  unto  her,  Give  me  to  drink  : 
for  his  disciples  were  gone  away  unto  the  city  to  buy 
meat.  Then  saith  the  woman  of  Samaria  unto  him. 
How  is  it  that  thou,  being  a  Jew,  asketh  drink  of  me, 
which  am  a  woman  of  Samaria  ?  for  the  Jews  have  no 
dealings  with  the  Samaritans.  Jesus  answered  and 
said  unto  her' — without  taking  notice  at  all  of  the 
schism  that  was  between  the  Samaritans  and  the  Jews, 
but  coming  at  once  to  the  grand  point  of  instruction—^ 

VOL.  IJ.  16 


174 


SERMON  XVIII. 


•  If  thou  knewest  the  gift  of  God,  and  who  it  is  that 
saith  to  thee,  Give  me  to  drink,  thou  wouldst  have 
asked  of  him.  and  he  would  have  given  thee  Hving 
water.' 

1.  Let  us  OPEN  THE  WORDS  of  this  passage;  and  . 
then, 

2.  Make  a  few  general  remarks  upon  them. 

I.  We  are  to  EXPLAIN  this  passage  of  Scripture. 

"You  are  inquiring,"  as  if  our  Lord  should  say, 
"how  it  is  that  I  have  overcome  the  prejudices  of  m} 
countrymen,  and  am  become  willing  to  have  some 
dealings  with  one  that  is  a  Samaritan ;  but  this  is, 
comparatively,  an  insignificant  affair.  There  is  a 
matter  of  infinite  importance  before  you  :  and  that  is. 
that  •  God  so  loved  the  world,  that  he  gave  his  only- 
begotten  Son' — his  principal  and  inestimable  gift,  the 
chief  act  of  his  mercy  and  grace — '  he  gave  his  only- 
begotten  Son,  that  whosoever  believeth  in  him  should 
not  perish,  but  have  everlasting  life.'  Now,  '  if  thou 
hadst  known  this  gift  of  God ;  if  thou  hadst  known 
who  it  is  that  saith  unto  thee,  Give  me  to  drink ;'  if, 
instead  of  mistaking  me  for  some  poor  Jew,  weary 
with  his  travels,  that  might  accidentally  sit  upon  this 
well,  and  ask  you  for  a  little  water,  had  you  known 
that  I  am  the  only-begotten  Son  of  God,  that  I  am 
come  into  the  world  to  redeem  and  ransom  perishing 
sinners,  that  I  have  life  and  that  I  give  it  abundantly ; 
if  thou  hadst  known  that  1  am  the  chief  gift,  the  chief 
token  of  God's  grace ;  thou  wouldst  have  asked  of 
me :  thou  wouldst  have  come  a  petitioner  to  me." 

As  if  he  had  said,  "  Such  as  know  Christ  and  their 
own  need,  will  consider  him  as  the  one  thing  needful ; 
and  that  better  part,  which  they  not  only  choose,  but 
which  shall  never  be  taken  away  from  them.  If  they 
knew  the  gift  of  God,  who  at  this  time  speaks,  they 
would  find  that  they  were  in  the  presence  of  one,  in 
whom  all  the  riches  of  God  are  treasured  up,  and 
through  whom  alone  they  are  communicated  to  man  : 


LlVINCx  WATER. 


175 


they  would  know,  that  I  contain  all  that  they  can  pos- 
sibly want,  that  I  am  equal  to  all  their  necessities,  and 
can  supply  all  their  wants  out  of  my  fulness  :  and 
they  would  know  also,  that  whosoever  they  may  be, 
though  they  have  lived  in  contempt  of  the  gift,  though 
their  sins  are  as  scarlet  or  as  crimson,  they  are  en- 
couraged to  come  as  weary  and  heavy  laden  sinners  to 
ine,  and  they  should  have  rest." 

'  If  thou  knewest  the  gift  of  God,  thou  wouldesl 
have  asked  of  me.'  Our  Lord  shows  us,  in  this  ex- 
pression, why  the  generality  of  men  make  no  applica- 
tion for  the  gift  of  God  :  for,  as  the  Psalmist  speaks  in 
the  ninth  Psalm, '  They,  that  know  thy  name,  will  put 
their  trust  in  thee;  for  thou,  Lord,  hast  not  forsaken 
them  that  seek  thee.  The  Lord  also  will  be  a  refuge 
for  the  oppressed,  a  refuge  in  times  of  trouble.' 

"  Now,"  our  Lord  seems  to  say,  "  if  thou  hadst 
known  who  is  speaking  ;  instead  of,  like  the  generalit) 
of  men,  cavilhng  about  some  trifling  matter  of  dispute, 
about  some  schism  between  you  and  your  neighbours, 
you  would  have  seen  the  necessity  of  making  immedi- 
ate application  to  one  who  could  heal  all  your  maladies. 
If  blind  or  lame,  you  would  not  be  put  away  without  a 
cure  :  if  bid  to  hold  your  peace  you  would  cry  so  much 
the  more,  '  Thou  Son  of  David,  have  mercy  on  me  ! 
Help  me  now  !  Help  me  at  this  time  !  Thou  mayest 
never  pass  this  way  again.'  It  is  not  enough  that  you 
know :  you  must  put  that  knowledge  in  practice. 
'  Thou  wouldest  have  asked  of  him,  and  he  would  have 
given  thee  Living  Water.'  " 

hiving  Water  is  a  Hebraism  for  a  spring  ;  in  contra- 
distinction to  water  which  is  put  into  a  cistern,  and 
which  may  be  drawn  out :  it  is  therefore  called  living 
water,  as  constantly  rising  and  flowing.  Such  springs, 
with  heahng  virtues,  are  found  in  this  country.  The 
jpring  jit  Bath,  for  instance,  has  been  rising  beyond  the 
records  of  history — for  hundreds  and  thousands  of 
years ;  and  still  rises  a  living  water  of  health. 

Our  Lord  points  out,  by.  this  figure,  the  gracious  in- 


176 


SERMON  XVIII. 


fluences  of  his  Holy  Spirit ;  as  you  may  see  in  the 
seventh  chapter  of  this  EvangeHst.  '  In  the  last  day, 
that  great  day  of  the  feast,  Jesus  stood  and  cried,  say- 
ing, If  any  man  thirst,  let  him  come  unto  me  and  drink.' 
We  cannot  mistake  his  meaning  ;  for  the  Evangelist 
adds,  '  This  spake  he  of  the  Spirit,  which  they  that  be- 
lieve on  him  should  receive.' 

It  is,  therefore,  as  if  our  Lord  had  said  to  this  wo- 
man, "  If  thou  hadst  known  who  it  is  that  asked,  thou 
wouldst  have  known  that  he  is  the  Chief  Gift  of  God  : 
and  that  all  other  gifts  are  contained  in  this  one. 
Thou  wouldst  have  known  that  he  gives  his  Spirit  to 
them  that  ask  him ;  which  may  be  compared  to  a 
spring  of  water,  springing  up  into  everlasting  life : 
and  his  gifts  and  grace  are  more  necessary  and  re- 
freshing to  the  thirsty  soul,  than  water  can  be  to  the 
thirsty  body.  Thou  wouldst  liave  come  to  him,  and 
he  would  have  given  thee  living  water." 

II.  Let  us  make,  upon  the  words  thus  opened,  a 
tew  general  REMARKS. 

Herein  are  set  before  us, 

1.  God's  greatest  gift: 

2.  Christ's  best  promise  : 

3.  The  world's  worst  error  : 

4.  The  sinner's  strongest  encouragement. 
1.  Let  us  attend  to  god's  greatest  gift — the 

<rift — the  great — the  greatest  gift  of  God  : — If  thou 
hadst  known  the  gift. 

There  is  an  infinite  variety  in  the  gifts  of  God  : — 
in  creation,  for  instance.  It  is  well  for  us  to  remark 
and  admire  these  :  but,  while  we  are  discoursing  on 
these  gifts,  we  must  remember  that  these  are  not  the 
gift.  For,  if  a  man  limit  his  time  and  his  thoughts  to 
the  consideration  of  the  beauties  of  creation,  and 
attend  not  to  the  gift,  the  chief  gift  of  God,  it  is  like 
presenting  to  a  wretched  criminal,  on  his  way  to  exe- 
cution, a  nosegay  or  a  garland  of  flowers — something 
to  amuse  him — and,  at  the  same  time,  withholding  that 


LIVING  WATER. 


17> 


knowledge  which  alone  could  save  him.  But,  '  God 
so  loved  the  world  :' — he  so  '  loved  the  world,  that  he 
gave  his  only  begotten  Son,  that  whosoever  believeth 
m  him  should  not  perish,  but  have  everlasting  life.* 
And,  as  St.  Paul  speaks,  Rom.  viii,  .32,  '  He,  that  spa- 
red not  his  own  Son,  but  delivered  him  up  for  us  all. 
how  shall  he  not,  with  him  also,  freely  give  us  all 
things  V 

Christ,  the  great  Prophet  and  Priest  of  his  Church, 
was  continually  turning  his  hearers  to  this  one  object. 
He  compares  it  to  'a  treasure  hid  in  a  tield' — to  '  a 
pearl  of  great  price' — to  '  the  bread  that  cometh  down 
from  heaven' — and,  here,  to  'living  water,'  having  wa- 
ter before  him,  and  asking  for  some  to  drink  ;  and 
hearing  the  woman  begin  to  turn  the  conversation  to 
^^ome  insignificant  matter — to  her  disputes  with  her 
neighbours ;  he  comes  at  once  to  the  point,  takes  up 
the  subject  before  him,  and  turns  it  into  a  text : — 
•  There  is  water ;  water  indeed, — water  of  life  :  and 
'whosoever  drinketh  of  it  shall  never  thirst' — he  shall 
not  faint  nor  perish  for  ever :  it  shall  cure  him  from 
thirsting  for  trifles  :  he  shall  have  evidence  that  this  is 
sufficient  for  him  in  time  and  in  eternity." 

It  is  worthy  our  observation,  how  our  Lord  pur- 
posely avoids  controversy  about  circumstantials  in 
religion.  The  Samaritan  or  Jewish  prejudice  hinted 
at  by  the  woman,  he  does  not  so  much  as  notice  :  not 
a  word  on  the  subject.  "  Some  differences,"  it  has 
been  well  said,  "  are  best  healed  by  being  slighted  :" 
it  is  giving  them  too  much  weight,  and  paying  them 
too  much  respect,  to  waste  our  time  or  thoughts  upon 
them. 

But,  while  some  differences  are  best  healed  by  be- 
ing slighted,  still,  in  order  to  show  a  perishing  creature 
the  only  hope  that  God  sets  before  him,  we  must  imi- 
tate our  Lord  in  bringing  forth  to  light  the  ignorance 
of  men  concerning  this  point,  and  the  indispensable 


178 


SERMON  XVIII. 


necessity  that  there  is  for  their  knowing  it,  or  perish- 
ing in  eternity. 

I  would  ask  every  man  before  me,  Have  you  seen 
and  felt  this  great  act  of  God's  grace  and  mercy,  in 
sending  his  Son  Christ  Jesus  to  save  perishing  crea- 
tures, who  are  daily  dropping  into  eternity,  and  it  ma} 
be  into  hell  ?  Do  you  see  what  an  amazing  discovery 
of  mercy  it  is,  that  you  are  called  to  take  hold  of  eter- 
nal life  ;  and  that  you  may  thus  advance  into  eternity, 
with  a  sure  and  certain  hope  of  escaping  all  the  mise- 
ries that  sin  has  brought  into  the  world  ?  Christianil\ 
tias  its  peculiarities,  and  it  is  not  to  be  trifled  with. 
There  is  one  grand  important  thing  set  before  us  in  it. 
which  was  pointed  at  by  Prophets,  preached  by  Christ, 
and  testified  by  Apostles — that  God  has  given  bul 
one  name  under  heaven  by  which  man  may  be 
saved. 

2.  Let  us  consider  Christ's  best  promise — 
Living  Water. 

'  Not  as  the  world  giveth,'  he  says,  '  give  I  unto  you." 
As  if  he  had  said,  "Were  I  to  place  before  you  the 
perishing  baubles  of  time,  it  would  be  at  best  bui 
treating  you  as  children,  and  mocking  your  expecta- 
tion with  things  which  perish  in  the  using:  but  I  will 
give  a  promise  of  a  Comforter  that  shall  abide  with 
you,  even  the  Spirit  of  Truth :  he  shall  guide  you 
into  all  truth.  My  best  promise  is  this  :  the  great 
promise  which  I  make  unto  the  Church  is  this  :  that 
if  they  come  and  ask  of  me,  I  will  give  them  liviiig 
water.'''' 

This  is  the  same  voice,  which  spake  in  the  firsl 
chapter  of  Proverbs,  '  How  long,  ye  simple  ones, 
will  ye  love  simplicity  ?  and  the  scorners  delight  in 
their  scorning,  and  fools  hate  knowledge  ?'  How  long 
will  man  act  so  like  a  fool  and  a  madman,  paying  no 
regard  to  his  state  and  condition  ?  Hearken  to  me  : 
'  Turn  you  at  my  reproof:  behold,  I  will  pour  out  my 
Spirit  upon  you  :'  I  will  give  j-ou  '  living  water.'  " 


179 


Thus  our  Lord  encouraged  his  disciples :  "  You 
;irc  grieving  at  my  going  away ;  but '  I  tell  you  the 
ii  uth  :  it  is  expedient  for  you  that  I  go  away :  for,  il 
I  go  not  away,  the  Comforter  will  not  come  unto  you  ; 
but,  if  I  depart,  I  will  send  him  unto  you.'  And  when 
he  is  come,  '  he  shall  glorify  me,  for  he  shall  receive 
of  mine,  and  shall  show  it  unto  you.  He  will  guide 
you  into  all  truth.  I  will  not  leave  you  comfortless 
I  will  send  my  Holy  Spirit :  I  will  give  you  living  wa- 
ter, A  spring  of  living  water." 

This  is  Christ's  Best  Promise. 

Brethren,  an  humble  and  patient  believer,  taking 
God  at  his  word  and  resting  on  Christ's  promise,  rises 
where  all  haughty  reasoners  and  speculators  must 
sink.  Not  that  it  is  an  irrational  thing  for  spirit  to 
operate  on  spirit ;  but  an  humble  and  patient  believer 
comes  as  a  little  child  to  receive  God's  gift  and  pro- 
mise, as  suited  to  his  wants  and  necessities ;  and,  in 
<  oming  according  to  the  command,  and  promise,  and 
warrant  of  God,  he  finds  that  this  living  water  does 
satisfy  him  •,  that  the  Spirit  does  convince  him  :  that  it 
noes  seal,  and  comfort,  and  sanctify  him  ;  that  it  gives 
liim  an  earnest  of  the  eternal  inheritance ;  that  i( 
bears  w  itness  with  his  Spirit  that  he  is  a  child  of  God  : 
that  it  bears  witness  to  the  truth  of  the  Gospel ;  thai 
he  has  something  to  comfort  his  heart ;  that  here  is 
satisfaction,  and  no  where  else.  "  For,"  says  he,  "  I 
lind  that  what  Christ  has  promised,  I  have  received ; 
and  that  it  answers  to  his  promise.  I  find  that  I  am 
enabled  not  to  thirst,  as  1  formerly  did  :  I  do  not  now 
faint,  as  I  used  to  do :  I  find  that  1  do  not  now  run 
about,  crying,  '  Who  will  show  me  any  good  ?'  I  do 
not  now  stoop  to  every  broken  cistern  for  good.  I 
find  that  this  is  the  real,  the  substantial  good." 

I  speak  now  to  some,  who  have  known  and  expe- 
lienced  in  religion,  that  they  should  learn  to  imitate 
Christ.  Christ  exercised  patience  toward  a  stupid, 
tjirnal,  wicked  world;  and  managed  with  people  as 


SERMON  XVIII. 


they  could  bear  it.  He  ever  kept  the  main  object  in 
view.  While  they  endeavoured  to  draw  him  off  with 
their  dissensions,  he  directs  them  to  the  living  water — 
the  spring  that  should  rise  for  ever  ?  Let  us  imitate 
him  herein.  When  we  would  converse  with  men  on 
the  most  important  subjects,  when  we  would  imprcs;- 
their  minds  with  some  weighty  truth,  they  will  strive 
to  turn  the  conversation  to  their  disputings  and  con- 
tentions on  some  point,  which,  whether  it  be  so  or 
whether  it  be  not  so,  it  is  not  worth  a  straw  to  know. 

3.  Let  us  turn  to  what  may  be  called  the  worldV 
WORST  error: — 'If  thou  knewest  the  gift  of  God. 
thou  wouldest  have  asked.' 

The  worst  account  that  can  be  given  of  this  world 
is,  that,  when  Christ  came  into  it  it  knew  him  not : 
when  '  he  came  unto  his  own,  his  own  received  him 
not.'  And,  every  day,  a  thinking  man  must  observe 
with  pain,  that,  while  the  world  boasts  of  its  sciences, 
and  its  advances  in  illumination  ;  yet  talk  to  men  ot 
the  Light  of  the  World,  speak  of  the  Bread  of  Life, — 
tell  them  of  the  Treasure  liid  in  the  Field, — or  of  this 
Living  Water,  which  cures  man,  relieves  him  when 
fainting,  and  prevents  him  from  fainting  for  ever — ^you 
bring  '  strange  things  to  their  ears  !' — "  What  notion- 
have  you  taken  up  in  your  mind  ?  Who  has  been  mis- 
leading you  ?" — Misleading  me  ! — Is  it  then  misleading 
a' man,  when  he  thinks  that  he  has  a  soul  to  teach  him 
what  will  become  of  it  ?  Is  it  irrational  to  think  of  the 
gift  of  God  ?  Is  it  strange  that  a  dying  man,  when  he 
finds  that  he  must  die  and  after  death  stand  before 
God  in  judgment,  is  it  strange  that  he  should  make  pro- 
vision against  that  day  ?  It  needs  no  words  to  sho\^ 
that  such  objectors  must  be  infatuated  to  the  last  de- 
gree, or  their  common  sense  would  pronounce  these 
to  be  the  most  important  questions  that  can  be  asked, 
the  most  important  considerations  that  can  possibly 
come  before  the  mind. 

If  a  man  had  to  pass  through  a  desert,  and  there 


LIVING  WATEK 


181 


were  but  one  spring  of  water  in  that  desert,  and  if  he 
and  his  whole  family  must  perish  should  he  pass  that 
spring,  would  he  travel  on  without  consideration? 
Would  he  say,  that  he  hoped  all  would  be  very  well  ? 
— he  dare  say  he  should  do  as  well  as  others  ? — there 
was  no  great  need  of  hunting  after  this  spring  ?  Every 
one  would  say,  •'  He  is  mad."  Yet  there  is  no  com- 
parison between  him,  and  the  man  who  would  pass  by 
this  Well  of  Life !  Peace,  Pardon,  Eternal  Life,  all 
must  come  from  Living  Water;  and  yet  men  talk  of 
it,  as  if  it  were  of  no  value ! 

Should  you  meet  a  multitude  of  diseased  people, 
hastening,  in  every  possible  method  of  travelling,  to  a 
spring  in  some  part  of  this  kingdom  of  reputed  virtue 
in  the  complaints  under  which  they  laboured :  and 
should  you  express  surprise  at  this  sight ;  would  not 
each  justly  reply,  "  Is  it  not  reasonable,  that,  if  I  can- 
not travel  in  such  equipage  as  I  would  wish,  I  should 
go  as  I  can  ?  that,  if  I  cannot  ride,  I  should  walk,  in 
order  to  be  healed  ?" — They,  indeed  will  seek  a  wa- 
ter, which  may  or  may  not  heal  them  :  and  you  will 
applaud  their  exertions ! — but,  while  Christ  otiers  wa- 
ter that  '  shall  spring  up  to  everlasting  life,'  and  that 
shall  invigorate  enfeebled  men,  until  they  sit  down  in 
glory  with  him,  and  with  Abraham,  and  Isaac,  and  Ja- 
cob, and  with  all  who  have  ever  drank  of  that  water : 
you  fall,  perhaps,  into  the  error  of  this  woman,  "  Art 
ihou  greater  than  our  father  Jacob,  which  gave  us  the 
well,  and  drank  thereof  himself,  and  his  children,  and 
his  cattle  ?  Can  you  otfer  us  any  thing  to  be  compared 
with  such  a  possession  ?" 

O  ye,  who  have  hitherto  been  such  persons  as  I  now 
Jescribe,  '  Awake  to  righteousness,  and  sin  not.' 
Know,  that  the  greatest  mistake  you  can  make,  or  thai 
Satan  would  introduce  into  your  hearts,  is,  the  neglect 
of  this  gift  of  God,  this  spring  of  living  water. 

'  If  our  Gospel  be  hid,'  says  St.  Paul,  '  it  is  hid  to 
I  hem  that  are  lost.'    And  who  are  thev  ? — '  In  whom 


182 


SERMON  XVIIl. 


the  God  of  this  world  hath  blinded  the  minds  of  them 
which  believe  not.  lest  the  light  of  the  glorious  gospel 
of  Christ,  who  is  the  image  of  God,  should  shine  unto 
them.' 

My  dear  hearers,  whenever  it  pleases  God  to  open  a 
man's  eyes,  and  to  show  him  his  character  and  condi- 
tion, he  sees  this  to  be  a  common  error,  that  men  for- 
sake the  living  waters  and  try  '  to  hew  to  themselves 
cisterns,  broken  cisterns  which  can  hold  no  water.' 
And,  whenever  there  comes  any  thing  worthy  to  be 
called  relief  in  the  case  of  man  :  bringing  him  to  him- 
self, as  the  prodigal  was  said  to  be ;  and  leading  him 
in  the  way  to  eternal  hfe :  it  is  by  the  Gospel  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  by  the  operation  of  the  Holy 
Spirit. 

4.  The  last  thing  to  be  considered  is,  the  sinner's 
STRONGEST  ENCOURAGEMENT  : — '  If  thou  hadstknowu. 
thou  wouldest  have  asked,  and  he  would  have  given.' 

This.  Brethren,  is  our  strongest  encouragement — 
not  that  the  creation  about  us  is  glorious  in  beauty, 
and  rich  in  its  bountiful  produce — not  merely  that  we 
have  lived  under  a  beneficent  Providence,  who  has 
guarded  our  lives,  fed  and  clothed  us,  and  provided 
for  us  comfortable  habitations ;  these  gifts  of  God  we 
should  ever  remember,  and  for  these  we  should  ever 
be  thankful :  but  we  should  remember,  too.  that  the 
world,  in  its  best  state,  is  but  a  barren  wilderness. 
'  My  soul  thirsteth  for  thee,  O  God,'  says  the  Psalmist, 
•in  a  dry  and  barren  land  where  no  water  is!'  We 
should  remember  that  '  man,  at  his  best  estate,  is  alto- 
gether vanity :'  whatever  he  possesses  is  departing, 
and  he  himself  must  soon  depart  too.  "Here,  there- 
fore, lies  our  encouragement :  here  is  the  one  point  ol 
comfort :  here  is  the  rest  of  the  heart  of  man  : — not 
that  creation  may  astonish  us  with  its  grandeur,  or 
pour  out  its  bounty  into  our  lap — not,  that,  while  here 
creeping  on  our  earth,  there  is  a  Providence  that  shall 
keep  us  to  the  end  of  our  lives : — but  here  lies  oui- 


LIVING  WATER. 


183 


hope — that,  in  the  wilderness,  there  is  a  spring  of 
living  water  to  be  found !  living  water,  in  a  dying 
world  !  There  is  our  encouragement. 

Take  away  this  living  water,  and  a  contemplative 
man  will  ask,  "  What  will  you  give  me  ?  Make  me 
as  rich  as  ever  man  was  :  heap  on  honours  and  plea- 
sures :  surround  me  with  every  gratification  that  can 
be  extracted  from  the  creature  : — What  then  ?  I 
must  go,  and  be  no  more  seen !  The  higher  you  lift 
me,  the  lower  I  shall  fall !  There  is  no  hope  in  these 
for  an  eternal  world !  My  mind  stretches  out  into 
eternity!  'What  must  1  do  in  the  end  thereof?' 
What  is  to  comfort  my  guilty  conscience,  on  a  dying 
bed?  When  God  shall  say,  'Thou  fool!  this  night 
shall  thy  soul  be  required  of  thee,'  where  are  my 
barns  then  ?  and  where  shall  I  be  ?" 

In  the  midst,  then,  of  ten  thousand  perplexities 
which  must  meet  the  mind  of  man,  here  is  one  grand 
and  important  truth,  '  If  thou  hadst  known,  thou 
wouldest  have  asked,  and  he  would  have  given  thee 
living  water.'  If  a  man  will  not  ask,  he  rejects  the 
counsel  of  God  :  he  tramples  on  his  gifts  :  and,  in  so 
doing,  he  incurs  aggravated  guilt,  and  must  suflTer  ag- 
gravated condemnation.  Yet,  still,  the  truth  remains  : 
— there  is  a  spring  of  water  in  a  dying  world. 

A  man  may,  indeed,  raise  questions  on  this  subject. 
It  may  be  with  him,  as  it  was  with  Hagar  in  the  wil- 
derness :  water  was  at  hand,  (hough  she  and  her  child 
were  perishing  for  thirst :  they  knew  it  not  till  the 
Angel  of  the  Lord  directed  them ;  yet,  still,  it  was  at 
hand.  Many  say,  "  I  know  not  what  to  do.  I  know 
not  what  course  to  take  in  religion.  I  know  not 
which  is  the  truth.  I  know  not  how  to  determine 
in  matters  debated  by  men  of  character."  Let  them 
debate !  Come  you  to  the  grand  point.  You  are  a 
perishing  creature,  and  here  is  Living  Water.  '  Ask, 
and  ye  shall  have :  seek  and  ye  shall  find.  Take  with 
you  words  :'  "  But  I  have  not  a  heart  to  take  words :" 


4 


J  84  SERMON  XVIII. 


— notwithstanding,  Take  with  you  words,  and  say, 
"  Take  away  all  iniquity,  and  receive  us  graciously,  so 
will  we  render  thee  the  calves  of  our  lips.  Enable  me 
to  see  more  of  the  excellence  of  this  water;  it  is 
thine  office  to  show  it  me :  Oh,  show  it  to  me." 

Remember,  at  the  same  time,  that  there  never  was 
but  one  spring  of  living  water  for  a  sinner  to  drink  at. 
'  They  drank,'  says  the  Apostle,  '  of  that  spiritual 
Rock  which  followed  them,  and  that  Rock  was  Christ.' 
There  never  was  but  that  one  well  of  salvation,  for 
satisfying  the  soul,  and  quenching  the  thirst  of  a  needy 
and  dying  creature. 

In  conclusion,  I  would  say,  in  the  words  of  the 
Prophet,  '  Ho !  every  one,  that  thirsteth,  come  ye  to 
the  waters  :  and  he,  that  hath  no  money,  come  :'  for 
freely,  '  without  money  and  without  price,'  hai?  God 
promised  it  to  them  that  ask  it. 


SERMON  XIX 


rilE  NOBLEMAN  OF  CAPERNAUM. 
John,  IV,  46 — 50. 

J?o  Jesus  came  again  into  Cana  of  Galilee,  where  he  made  the  wa- 
ter wine.  And  there  was  a  certain  Nobleman,  whose  Son  was 
sick  at  Capernaum.  When  he  heard  that  Jesus  was  come  out 
of  Judea  into  Galilee,  he  went  unto  him,  and  besought  him  that 
he  would  come  down  and  heal  his  Son  ;  for  he  was  at  the  point  ol 
death.  Then  said  Jesus  unto  him,  except  ye  see  signs  and  won- 
ders, ye  will  not  believe.  The  Nobleman  saith  unto  Him,  Sir. 
come  down,  ere  my  child  die.  Jesus  saith  unto  him,  go  thy  way, 
thy  Son  liveth.  And  the  man  believed  the  word  that  Jesus  had 
i-poken  unto  him,  and  he  went  his  way. 

This  is  a  short,  but  instructive  history.    It  seems  to 
need  no  explanation,  being  a  simple  narrative.  I 
shall,  therefore,  at  once  endeavour  to  lead  your  mind? 
to  the  Four  follovi^ing  Observations  : — 
It  points  out  to  us, 

1.  The  INDIGENCE   OF   HUMAN  GREATNESS. 

2.  The  EXERCISE   OF  FAITH. 

3.  The  ALL-SUFFICIENCY  OF  JESUS,  OUR  GOD,  TO 
■^AVE. 

4.  The  PROGRESS   OF   HIS  TEACHING. 

I.  Let  US  remark  the  INDIGENCE  OF  HUMAN 
GREATNESS  ;  or  the  poverty  of  the  rich  and  noble. 

This  is  a  subject  little  thought  of  in  the  world,  but 
the  Bible  was  written  to  set  our  minds  right,  and  lead 
tis  to  understand  every  thing  that  concerns  us.  Il' 
you  speak  of  a  rich  man,  a  nobleman,  Indigence  and 
Poverty  are  the  last  ideas  connected  with  the  words  : 
yet  the  Scripture  shows  that  they  ought  to  be  so 
associated. 

vor.,  ir.  17 


SERMON  XIX. 


A  Nobleman  here  comes  to  Jesus  of  Nazareth — 
himself  so  poor  that  he  'had  not  where  to  lay  his 
head'' — a  nobleman  comes  to  him  in  distress  :  he  had 
a  sick  child ;  and  what  relief  can  riches  bring  in  sucli 
a  case  ?  "'  They  can  employ  physicians."  And  whal 
can  physicians  do  ?  They  frequently  leave  the  house, 
and  say,  "  We  can  do  nothing !" 

Let  the  Rich  recollect  that  their  riches  can  do  no- 
thing for  them  in  many  of  the  common  sorrows  in 
life,  in  pain  and  in  sickness  :  they  can  give  no  com- 
fort to  a  dying  man ;  much  less  can  they  give  ease  to  a 
guilty  conscience  :  they  cannot  purchase  peace. 

Nor  let  the  poor  envy  the  rich  man  his  possessions, 
when  they  consider  how  many  things  of  vast  impor- 
tance there  are,  vrliich  his  riches  cannot  procure  for 
him  ;  and  Death  stands  waiting  at  his  door,  when  ht 
must  leave  every  thing. 

The  Indigence  of  Greatness  and  the  Poverty  oi 
Riches,  are  discovered  in  those  wants  which  belong  to 
the  rich  and  noble  and  great,  and  which  can  have  no 
relief  but  from  Him  who  is  infinitely  rich. 

See  a  general  at  the  head  of  his  army,  sweeping 
from  the  earth  every  thing  that  men  call  their  own  : 
the  man  seems  to  think  every  thing  at  his  will : — the 
point  of  a  sword,  the  bullet  of  a  distant  enemy,  or 
the  common  infirmities  of  nature  overtake  him :  he 
falls  down,  and  expires ! 

A  man  goes  to  the  East  Indies — amasses  a  large 
fortune — comes  home :  but  his  wealth  cannot  pur- 
chase peace,  for  such  men  have  been  known  to  de- 
stroy themselves,  because  they  could  not  bear  to  live. 

Belshazzar  calls  his  thousand  lords  to  a  festival,  and 
determines  that  festivity  shall  rule  the  hour :  but  a 
handwriting  appears  on  the  wall — Belshazzar !  Thou 
art  a  poor  man !  Thou  hast  no  Saviour !  Thou  hast 
no  Almighty  Friend! 

Hezekiah  may  suppose  that  he  has  many  years  to 
live :  but  Hezekiah  !  '  Set  thy  house  in  order,  for  thou 


Tim  XOBLE.MAN  OF  CAPERNAUM.  187 


slialt  die  and  not  live.'  Oh,  happy  for  him.  He 
knew  who  dwelt  between  the  cherubim ;  and  he  lifted 
up  his  eyes  to  him.  and  owned  his  dependence  on  him. 
He  prayed  for  help ;  and  found  him,  who  is  '  a  verj 
present  help  in  trouble.' 

My  dear  hearers,  if  you  are  tempted  to  envy  th(- 
lich,  consider  what  is  the  most  invaluable  blessing 
Avhich  a  rich  man  can  have :  and  that  is  when  he  it- 
taught  of  God  his  poverty  ;  and  when,  like  Hezekiah. 
he  knows  to  whom  to  lift  his  eyes,  and  how  to  do 
good  to  his  neighbour,  and  to  become  a  common 
blessing  to  society.  '  I  counsel  thee  to  buy  of  me 
gold  tried  in  the  fire,  that  thou  mayest  be  rich ;  and 
white  raiment,  that  thou  mayest  be  clothed ;  that  the 
shame  of  thy  nakedness  do  not  appear ;  and  anoini 
bine  eyes  with  eye-salve  that  thou  mayest  see.'  If 
ever  thou  art  clothed,  if  ever  truly  rich,  if  ever  thine 
eyes  are  truly  open,  it  is  when  thou  art  coming  to  •  the 
unsearchable  riches  of  Christ.' 

II.  I  shall  notice,  that  this  Nobleman  was  among 
those  blessed  persons,  who  feel  their  poverty.  He 
acknowledged  it :  he  came  to  Jesus,  from  Judea  into 
Galilee.    Here  was  the  EXERCISE  OF  FAITH. 

Not  that  great  faith,  indeed,  of  which  you  read  in 
the  Centurion :  '  Speak  the  word  only,  and  my  ser- 
vant shall  be  healed.'  But  this  man,  according  to  his 
Strength,  came  to  the  true  Helper,  and  besought  him 
that  he  would  come  down.  '  Jesus  said  unto  him. 
Except  ye  see  signs  and  wonders  ye  will  not  believe. 
The  nobleman  saith  unto  him,  Sir,  come  down,  ere 
my  child  die.'  Here  was  true  faith.  Faith  made  the 
report  of  the  power,  and  grace,  and  friendship  ol 
Christ  interesting  to  the  man.  He  travelled  fifteen 
miles — made  his  application, — spoke  like  a  man,  who. 
though  distrusting  our  Lord's  ability  to  save  at  a  dis- 
tance, yet  seems  to  say,  "  He  is  able  to  do  it,  if  he 
come  down :  if  he  come  before  the  child  die."  If 
bis  faith  had  been  stronger,  he  would  have  said,  "  He 


188 


SERMON  XIX. 


can  do  it,  without  coming  down ;"  But,  still,  being  in 
oarnest,  and  being  certain  that  Christ  was  the  on)} 
helper,  he  says,  "  Come  and  help  me :  thou  canst 
help  me." 

It  is  a  blessed  sign,  when  a  great  man  can  bear  re- 
proof; when  he  is  willing  to  be  instructed.  Our 
Lord  said  to  him,  '  Except  ye  see  signs  and  wonders, 
ye  will  not  believe.'  As  if  he  had  said,  "  I  bring 
sufficient  credentials,  without  working  miracles.  Look 
into  the  prophecies."  The  Nobleman,  receives  the 
reproof,  but  says,  Sir,  come  down.  There  is  some- 
thing very  natural  in  this.  ^Tien  our  hearts  are  set 
on  any  thing,  people  may  counsel  us :  they  may  tell 
us  our  duty  :  but  the  heart  is  set  on  the  point.  Though 
our  Lord  is  speaking  to  him  of  signs  and  wonders,  he 
dwells  on  the  same  thing :  "Sir!  My  child  is  dying! 
come  down.  You  may  instruct  me,  if  you  please : 
vou  rfiay  reprove  me  if  you  please :  but  sir !  come 
down."  It  shows  the  man  is  tractable,  a  child  of  in- 
struction, when  he  can  bear  reproof:  especially  if  he 
is  a  great  man  ;  and  does  not  plead  his  quality,  but  is 
content  to  be  treated  as  a  poor  man. 

This  is  the  reproof:  '  Except  ye  see  signs  and  won- 
ders, ye  will  not  believe.'  As  if  he  had  said,  "  The 
truths  which  I  preach,  are  proper  objects  for  your  de- 
pendance."  Our  Lord  would  teach  us  not  to  pre- 
scribe for  our  physician,  and  that  the  greatest  must 
bow  before  him.  Let  us  learn  b)  this  history.  Let 
enthusiasts  go  to  dreams  :  let  the  Papist  go  to  wonders 
and  lying  miracles :  but  let  us  trust  the  word  of  an 
eternal  and  unchangeable  God. 

Jesus  said.  Go  thv  way.  thv  son  liveth. 

III.  We  may  remark,  the'  ALL-SUFFICIENCY 
OF  JESUS,  OUR  GOD,  TO  SAVE:  '  Jesus  saith 
unto  him.  Go  thy  way.  thy  son  liveth.' 

The  Divinity  of  Christ  is  the  foundation  of  his 
Priestly  Office.  The  Godhead  gave  such  a  value  to 
his  sacrifice,  that  it  became  "  a  full,  perfect,  and  suffi- 


THE  NOBLEMAN  OF  CAPERNAUM.  189 


cient  sacrifice,  oblation,  and  satisfaction  for  the  sins  of 
the  whole  world." 

It  is  the  foundation  also  of  his  Regal  Office.  How 
« ould  he  relieve  us  in  every  possible  case,  if  he  were 
not  the  Almighty,  All-sufficient  God  ?  How  could  he 
1)0  in  the  midst  of  every  two  or  three  met  together  in 
his  name,  if  he  were  not  the  Omnipresent  God  ? 
A  distressed  father  here  comes  to  him  :  he  spake,  and 
it  was  done.  'Go  thy  way  :  thy  son  liveth.'  He  does 
not  say,  ""Thy  son  shall  live  :"  he  does  not  say,  ''He 
shall  i-ecover:"  but  "Go  home:  you  will  find  him 
well."  And  which  is  more — he  not  only  removed 
sickness  from  the  child,  but  doubt  from  the  father :  for 
he  is  not  only  the  author  but  the  Jinishe)-  of  faith. 
The  father  hears,  believes,  and  departs  satisfied  ;  de- 
p'ending  on  the  truth  of  the  speaker ;  comforting  his 
heart :  and  feeling  that  there  were  here  two  miracles 
performed  in  one. 

Oh,  that  you  aad  I  could  learn  from  this  history, 
that  the  Eternal  God,  who  is  the  life  of  the  creature, 
is  here  pointing  out  to  dying  creatures,  like  ourselves, 
that  there  is  no  rest,  no  hope  for  us  in  the  world,  but 
in  'God  manifest  in  the  flesh!'  So  that,  when  he 
says  to  us, '  Come  unto  me,'  he  adds,  '  and  I  will  give 
you  rest :'  rest  for  your  bodies ;  rest  for  your  souls  ; 
rest  under  your  troubles  ;  rest  in  temptation ;  rest  in 
death ;  and  rest  in  judgment.  '  Come  unto  me,  and  I 
will  give  you  rest.' 

Once  more.  When  it  pleases  the  Spirit  of  God  to 
set  his  seal  to  the  word  of  Christ,  then  it  is  that  we 
begin  to  enter  into  that  '  rest  which  remains  for  the 
people  of  God.'  Then  we  proceed,  leaning  on  him, 
trusting  and  depending  on  his  word.  We  do  not  see 
the  Eternal  Life,  but  it  is  enough  for  us  to  know  that 
Christ  has  given  us  the  promise.  And  thus,  though, 
like  Hannah,  we  go  to  the  house  of  God  in  deep  trou- 
ble, yet  if  we  are  able  to  embrace  the  word,  we  go 
away,  as  she  did,  no  more  sad. 
vor..  Ti.  l?* 


190 


SERMON  XIX. 


IV.  Remark  the  PROGRESS  OF  CHRIST'S 
TEACHING. 

The  nobleman  went  his  way  :  and,  as  he  was  now 
tfoing  down,  the  fever  left  his  son.  He  not  only  '  be- 
gan to  amend,'  but  '  the  fever  left  him.'  When  the 
father  knew  from  his  servants  that  the  cure  took  place 
•  at  the  same  hour,  in  the  which  Jesus  said  unto  him. 
Thy  son  liveth,'  doubtless  he  would  feel,  "  This  is 
another  miracle !  He  has  not  only  said,  '  Thy  son 
liveth,'  and  enabled  me  to  believe  his  word;  but,  at 
the  very  moment  he  spake  the  word,  the  work  was 
done  !  W  ho  is  this  ?  Nothing  like  this  can  be  thought 
of  any  man  or  angel.  This  is  he,  who  was  promised 
to  our  forefathers !  This  is  God  in  human  nature ! 
At  the  moment  he  spake,  the  work  was  done !"  '  And 
himself  believed,  and  his  whole  house.' 

Remark  here  the  progress  of  Christ's  teaching.  A 
man  in  distress  comes  to  Christ,  and  obtains  help  and 
faith  to  believe  it :  he  returns  home,  and  finds  it  done  : 
and,  in  such  a  way,  as  shows  the  omniscient  power  of 
the  doer :  he  relates  this  to  his  family,  and  asks,  "  Is 
not  this  the  Messiah  ?  Is  not  this  '  he,  who  should 
come  ?'  Can  the  Messiah  more  fully  authenticate  his 
mission  ?"  The  servants  mark  the  fact :  they  be- 
lieve :  the  house  is  awakened,  and  becomes  a  house- 
of  believers.  Here  is  the  progress  of  Christ's  teach- 
ing :  for  truth  gains  by  fair  examination.  There  arc 
wonders  and  signs  which  impostors  use,  that  will  not 
bear  examination :  but,  such  is  the  truth  and  consis- 
tency of  the  religion  of  Jesus,  that  we  invite  men  to 
examine  for  themselves.  We  lament  that  they  will 
not  do  so.  We  lament  that  they  will  listen,  for  in- 
stance, to  such  a  trifling  fool  as  Voltaire,  or  to  such 
an  incendiary  as  Hume ;  that  they  will  go  to  any  jest- 
ing scorner.  Why  will  they  do  this  ?  Because  the} 
fear  to  come  to  an  inquiry. 

But  affliction  makes  us  serious ;  and  most  of  us,  if 
ivc  have  ever  been  taught  of  God.  have  reason  to 


THE  NOBLEMAN  OF  CAPERNAUM. 


191 


thank  him  for  the  afflictions  whereby  he  rendered  us  se- 
rious and  thoughtful.  He  taught  us  by  them  the  first 
step  to  wisdom.  He  leads  us  by  them  to  himself,  who  is 
our  only  helper.  A  serious  mind  is  a  blessing.  A  se- 
rious, thinking,  attentive,  honest  heart  is  an  inestimable 
blessing.  Such  a  man  will  soon  perceive  that  there  is 
more  in  Christianity,  more  in  the  worship  and  service 
and  favour  of  God,  than  the  jester  ever  thought  of. 

It  is  a  serious  thing  to  die  :  it  is  a  serious  thing  to 
stand  before  God  in  judgment :  it  is  a  serious  thing  to 
have  something  then  to  rest  on :  and,  when  the  awa- 
kened man  comes  to  compare  one  part  of  the  divine 
dealings  with  another,  he  sees  that  the  same  God  who 
wrote  the  Book  of  Nature  also  wrote  the  Book  of 
Revelation. 

Thus  it  is  that  God  advances  his  kingdom  by  truth. 
Satan  has  a  thousand  arts  and  falsities  wherewith  to 
advance  his  kingdom;  but  Christ  carries  on  his  by 
truth. 

I  call  the  men  who  are  prosperous  in  this  world,  to 
examine  and  compare  their  temporal  advantages  with 
their  spiritual,  and  to  inquire  whether  they  keep  pace 
with  each  otlier.  When  you  consider  how  swiftly 
time  flies  and  death  approaches,  surely  3'our  first 
prayer,  when  you  open  your  eyes  in  the  morning, 
should  be,  "  Oh !  put  me  not  off  with  these  trifles ! 
Let  me  not  wrap  up  my  heart  in  these  wretched  objects 
of  sense  and  time!"  Brethren!  are  you  afflicted? 
It  is  a  blessed  school  of  wisdom.  Endeavour  to  enter 
into  God's  design  herein  :  then  if  you  are  brought  un- 
der the  heaviest  affliction  that  ever  man  endured,  you 
will  praise  him  to  eternity,  that  he  laid  it  upon  you. 
l^ray  to  him  to  enable  you  to  bear  your  burden,  and 
!o  glorify  him  thereby  ;  and  then  you  will  go  away  no 
more  sad. 

Parents !  you  and  I  have  a  great  charge  committed 
to  us.  And  we  have  been  wounded,  again  and  again, 
by  seeing  how  little  we  can  impress  the  minds  of  oni- 


192  oERMON  XIX. 


children,  with  those  things  with  which  we  are  impress- 
ed ourselves.  Like  the  father  before  us  we  have  sick- 
children  :  every  one  of  them  wounded  and  stung  b} 
the  Old  Serpent :  his  venom  is  working  in  them  :  you 
can  bring  them  by  faith  in  prayer,  to  Christ ;  and  the} 
never  will  be  healed,  till  they  come  to  him.  Be  you 
their  examples :  be  you  their  teachers.  Show  them 
the  madness  of  sin ;  the  dreadful  end  of  those  paths  in 
which  others  are  walking ;  the  shortness  of  life ;  the 
certainty  of  death;  and  the  blessedness  of  dying  itt 
the  Lord.  Recount  to  them  your  own  mercies  and 
comforts :  afford  them  all  the  assistance  in  your 
power.  Listen  not  to  the  suggestions  of  despair. 
While  hfe  remains,  there  is  hope.  Many  of  us  are 
witnesses,  that,  however  far  we  may  have  been  suffer- 
ed to  proceed,  God  has  raised  us  up  as  monuments  of 
liis  mercy. 

Children !  1  see  that  there  are  many  of  you  here — 
consider,  that,  if  you  would  be  truly  great  and  noble 
and  eminent,  you  must  be  poor  and  wretched  and 
miserable  in  your  own  eyes.  Your  deceitful  hearts 
will  tell  you  that  you  can  do  for  yourselves  what  God 
alone  can  do  for  you :  if  you  trust  them,  you  arc 
rebellious  against  God.  This  poor,  gay,  gaudy  world, 
which  God  says  is  vanity,  will  try  to  ensnare  you :  il 
you  are  caught  by  it,  remember  that  you  are  rebellious 
against  God.  Your  parents,  instead  of  making  you 
wretched  by  bringing  you  to  a  house  of  prayer,  wish 
to  make  you  happy  :  they  would  not  nave  you  put  ofi 
with  vanity  instead  of  happiness.  May  God  enable 
you  to  beg  your  parents  to  lead  you '  in  that  way  which 
is  everlasting !'  Wait  on  him,  in  prayer,  till  you  give 
evidence  that  you  belong  to  him !  Say,  with  Jabez. 
'  Oh,  that  thou  wouldst  bless  me  indeed !  that  thy  hand 
might  be  with  me !  that  thou  wouldst  keep  me  from 
evil,  that  it  might  not  grieve  me.'  Pray,  "  Oh,  thai 
thou  wouldst  train  me  up,  like  young  Samuel,  like 
Timothy ;  that  I  may  be  '  visited  with  the  favour 
which  thou  bearest  to  thy  people.' 


SERMON  XX. 


THE  POWER  OF  FAITPI. 

John,  xi,  39,  40. 

Je3U3  said,  take  ye  away  the  Stone.  Martha,  the  sister  of  liim  thai 
was  dead,  saith  unto  him.  Lord,  by  this  time  he  stinketh  ;  for  he 
hath  been  dead  four  days.  Jesus  saith  unto  her,  said  I  not  unto 
thee,  that,  if  thou  wouldst  believe,  thou  shouldst  see  the  Glory 
of  God.= 

In  this  history  we  have  an  instance  of  the  power  of 
our  God  and  Saviour,  as  exhibited  toward  a  distressed 
family,  with  which  he  was  connected  in  the  tender 
bonds  of  friendship.  They  had  lost  a  valuable  bro- 
ther :  they  sent  to  Jesus,  in  the  time  of  his  sickness : 
but  he  went  not.  After  the  death  of  Lazarus,  he  took 
his  disciples  with  him  to  the  grave,  that  God  might  be 
glorified  by  the  extraordinary  miracle  of  calling  forth 
to  life  his  dead  friend.  Martha  met  him,  and  said 
unto  him,  '  Lord,  if  thou  hadst  been  here,  my  brother 
had  not  died — When  Jesus  therefore  saw  her  weep- 
ing, and  the  Jews  also  weeping  which  came  with  her, 
he  groaned  in  the  spirit,  and  was  troubled :'  He 
groaned  to  see  the  ravages  of  sin  ;  and  to  see  man,  whom 
God  had  formed  upright  and  perfect,  laid  as  a  mass  of 
putrefaction  in  the  tomb :  and  he  wept,  to  show  that 
he  had  sympathy  with  us  in  our  sorrows.  '  Jesus 
said.  Take  ye  away  the  stone.  Martha,  the  sister  of 
him  that  was  dead,'  listening  to  the  reports  of  sense, 
starts  her  obtections  :  '  Lord,  by  this  time  he  stinketh  ; 
for  he  hath  been  dead  four  days :'  he  is  in  a  state  not 
lit  for  the  eye  to  look  on.  Jesus  silenced  her  objec- 
lions  :  '  Said  I  not  unto  thee,  that,  if  thou  wouldst  be- 


194 


SEIUION  XX. 


lieve,  thou  shouldst  see  the  glory  of  God?'  as  if  hf 
had  said,  "  Martha !  wh^t  did  I  say  to  thee  ?  You  for- 
<^et  who  stands  at  the  grave  ;  and  what  he  declared  to 
you,  when  he  told  you,  that,  if  you  would  trust  him. 
you  should  see  the  glory  and  power  of  God  shine  forth 
in  the  resurrection  of  the  dead." 

This  history  will  suggest  to  us  some  profitable  re- 
marks. 

I.  We  may  here  see  the  special  BENEFIT  OF' 
SANCTIFIED  AFFLICTION. 

There  is  an  evil  disposition  in  the  heart,  to  depart 
from  the  living  God.  Creatures  entice  the  heart,  and 
call  it  away,  as  though  they  could  do  for  us,  what  God 
alone  can  do.  He  therefore  sends  trials  and  afflictions, 
to  stop  us  in  our  wanderings  :  then  we  vex,  and  fret, 
and  think  we  do  well  to  be  angry. 

We  are  apt  to  regard  these  trials  as  sent  to  strip  u* 
of  our  happiness  ;  but  God  has  other  designs.  When 
he  sends  an  affliction,  he  would  bring  us  and  himself 
nearer  together  :  he  would  show  us  that  there  must  be 
a  time  to  thrust  away  worldly  cares  ;  a  time  to  ap- 
proach and  say  to  him,  "  Lord  !  I  am  weary  of  the 
world.  /  zoould  not  live  alway.  The  desire  of  my 
eyes  is  taken  away  at  a  stroke.  I  see  plainly  that 
every  earthly  comfort  must  go.  I  must  go  myself :  and 
now,  Lord,  what  wait  I  for  ?  Truly  my  hope  is  even  in 
'hee  !    In  thee  is  comfort.     Vain  is  the  help  of  man.''' 

Martha  was  anxious  about  earthly  things  ;  Christ 
reproved  her.  One  thing  only  is  needful  :  here  he 
again  reproves  her.  and  rouses  her  mind  to  feel  the 
necessity  of  looking  out  for  a  better  comforter  than 
this  world  or  its  connections.  How  do  facts,  as  well 
as  the  Word  of  God.  speak  the  beggary  of  human  na- 
ture !  Whatever  is  dear  to  us,  whatever  is  indeed  valu- 
able and  excellent  here,  we  must  see  to  be  dying  and 
vanishing  from  us,  in  order  to  our  enjoying  it  aright ! 
Afflictions,  when  God  sends  them  in  mercy,  appeal  to 
conscience  :  "  See  how  poor  the  world  is !  See  ho^ 


THE  POWER  OF  FAITH. 


195 


precious  Jesus,  the  Resurrection  and  the  Life,  is  ! — 
Though  your  friends  and  comforts  die,  yet  he,  that  be- 
fieveth  in  him,  shall  never  die!  See  how  your  com- 
tbrts  hang  on  a  breath  !"  There  is  infinitely  more  wis- 
ilom  acquired  under  one  sanctified  afflictive  dispensa- 
lion, — infinitely  more  wisdom  in  the  house  of  mourn- 
ing,— than  can  be  acquired  under  a  thousand  lectures, 
though  spoken  by  the  tongues  of  men  or  angels,  when 
we  are  at  ease  and  quiet. 

Are  any  of  you,  at  this  time,  called  to  sit  in  the 
■school  of  affliction  ?  beg  of  God  to  give  3  ou  to  sec 
his  meaning  in  this  dispensation,  and  to  bestow  on  you 
(he  grand  blessing  designed  therein. 

II.  Let  us  CONTRAST  THE  VANITY  OF 
MAN  WITH  THE  SUFFICIENCY  OF  GOD. 

These  are  strikingly  contrasted  in  the  text.  While 
■  all  flesh  is  grass,  and  all  the  goodhness  of  man  as  the 
llower  of  the  field  and  while  '  the  grass  withereth 
:ind  the  flower  fadeth,'  and  we  must  soon  be  made 
deeply  to  feel  that  it  is  so  :  yet  we  may  learn  from  the 
text  the  sufficiency  of  Christ  to  relieve,  help,  and  com- 
fort in  all  possible  cases. 

Jesus  reproved  Martha  :  '  Said  I  not  unto  thee  : 
that,  if  thou  Avouldst  believe,  thou  shouldst  see  the 
glory  of  God  ? — Thy  brother  shall  rise  again  :  I 
Icnow,  ■  says  she,  '  that  he  shall  rise  again  in  the  resur- 
rection at  the  last  day.  Jesus  said  unto  her,  I  am  the 
Resurrection  and  the  Life :  he,  that  believeth  in  me, 
though  he  were  dead,  yet  shall  he  live  ;  and  whosoever 
liveth  and  believeth  in  me,  shall  never  die.'  As  if  he 
had  said,  "  The  more  you  see  of  the  misery  and  mor- 
tality of  human  nature,  the  more  you  should  look  to 
the  Light  of  Life,  the  abundant  grace  of  the  Son  of 
God,  who  has  come  dovrn  from  heaven,  and  now  speaks 
to  your  heart." 

In  order  to  this,  it  pleases  God  to  lead  things  to  ex- 
tremities, that  his  people  may  experience  his  power. 
Martha  said,  '  Lord,  by  this  time  he  stinketh :  for  he 


196 


SERMON  XX. 


hath  been  dead  four  days.'  ^Vhat  can  now  be  done  ? 
He  seems  to  say.  '"  Any  thing  can  be  done,  if  i  under- 
take to  do  it.  It  is  your  extremity.  You  call  this  a 
critical,  a  hopeless  case  ;  1  call  it  my  opportunity, — 
the  time  to  demonstrate  the  greatness  of  my  power, — 
the  time  to  lay  a  ground  and  a  solid  foundation  for 
my  servants"'  belief,  that,  with  God,  nothing  is  im- 
possible."' 

Brethren  !  we  never  reason  so  soundly,  as  when  wc 
reason  tlius  : — "  What  has  God  said  .'  IVhat  does  he 
command  us  to  do  ?  On  what  does  he  tell  me  to  place 
my  expectation  .'  And  what  is  my  duty  at  this  time  ? 
Shall  I  tell  him.  that  my  friend  is  past  recovery  ?  Shall 
I  tell  him.  that  he  has  been  four  days  dead  ?  He  says. 
Take  au-ay  the  stone.  Let  that  suffice.  I  will  take  it 
away.*'  The  centurion  reasoned  thus  ;  and  had  more 
becoming  sentiments  than  .Martha.  v>hen  he  said. 
"  '  Speak  the  word  only,  and  my  servant  shall  be  heal- 
ed.' My  ser\  ant  is  dying :  I  ask  thee  not  to  come 
under  my  roof :  I  ask  thee  but  to  speak  the  word  :  for 
'  I  am  a  man  in  authority,  and  have  soldiers  under  me: 
and  I  say  to  one,  Do  this,  and  he  doeth  it :  and  to  an- 
other. Do  that,  and  he  doeth  it.'  Do  thou  thus  speak 
the  word :  and.  as  thou  sendest  sickness,  speak  the 
word  and  thou  shalt  also  send  health." 

They,  who  placed  the  most  childlike  confidence  in 
the  Son  of  God.  were  most  commended  of  him.  Let 
us,  therefore,  learn  never  to  make  objections  to  what 
God  has  taught  us  to  do ;  for  notliing  can  be  brought 
to  him  without  hope.  Let  us  learn,  that,  in  order  to 
gain  the  blessing,  the  exercise  of  his  power,  we  must 
honour  him  by  depending  on  him :  "  Said  I  not  unto 
thee.  that,  if  thou  wouldest  believe,  thou  shouldest 
see  the  glory  of  God  ?'  Put  honour,  first,  on  him,  by 
depending  on  his  power :  then  we  shall  see  its  opera- 
tion. Let  us  thus  honour  God.  Let  us  meet  him  in 
prayer,  seek  his  blessing,  consult  him  in  every  diffi- 
culty, and  ne%'er  talk  of  possibilities  and  impossi- 


THE  POWER  OF  FAITH. 


197 


bilities,  as  if  he  could  do  this  for  us,  but  not  that.  Ii 
is  our  weakness  thus  to  talk  concerning  him. 

111.  We  may  learn  HOW  WE  ARE  TO  HO- 
NOUR CHRIST. 

Wc  are  to  do  this,  by  resting  on  his  word.  "  Said  I 
not  unto  thee,  that,  if  thou  wouldst  believe,  thou 
shouldst  see  the  glory  of  God  ?'  that  is,  I  taught 
thee  where  the  matter  turns ;  as  to  thy  help,  thy  com- 
fort, and  my  glory.  I  taught  thee  to  leave  it  in  my 
I  land.  If  thou  honourest  the  Promiser,  thou  shall 
see  the  fulfilment  of  the  Promise. 

Christ  refers  to  his  own  word.  There  is  a  necessity 
tor  this.  There  is  a  necessity  for  the  truth  being  re- 
|)eated  continually.  Every  Christian  has  need  to  be 
reminded,  that  he  is  called  on  to  trust  God's  word, 
is  it  not  enough  that  he  has  spoken  ?  Is  there  not  firm 
ground  to  stand  on  in  his  word  ?  What  he  says  ought 
always  to  calm  and  satisfy  us.  Man  is  ever  looking 
round  :  What  do  my  senses  say  ?  What  does  the  or- 
dinary course  of  things  suggest  ?  What  are  my  expec- 
tations ?  What  do  my  friends  tell  me  ?"  But  Christ 
turns  away  from  these  miserable  Commentators : 
•  Said  I  not  unto  thee  ?' 

This  Blessed  Book,  the  Bible,  to  which  we  are  so 
often  referred,  and  which  we  are  charged  to  search, 
repeats  the  reports  of  our  God  and  Saviour  to  our 
hearts.  It  does  not  militate  against  this  statement, 
that  the  expressions  are  general ;  for  how  were  it  pos- 
sible for  every  man's  particular  necessities  to  have  a 
particular  revelation  ?  If  it  is  general,  that  may  suffice. 
The  enthusiast  wants  a  dream  :  the  thoughtless  trifler 
throM's  open  his  Bible,  and  takes  at  random  the  first 
passage  which  he  meets  ;  and  so  deludes  himself :  bul 
the  serious  reader  of  Scripture  comes  to  it  as  to  God's 
word  ;  considers  its  general  instructions,  encourage- 
ments, and  assurances ;  then  considers  how  far  these 
are  applicable  to  his  own  case. 

Well  were  it,  indeed,  for  us,  if  we  could  honour  the 

VOL.  II.  18 


198 


SERMON  XX. 


Saviour  as  we  would  honour  a  valuable  friend.  l£  a 
great  man  offer  us  his  friendship,  we  say,  "  Such  a  no- 
bleman gives  his  word  to  assist  me  when  in  distress : 
and.  when  a  particular  case  arises,  I  shall  take  it  to 
lum.''  There  is  not  a  person  in  the  congregation, 
who  would  not  rejoice  and  comfort  himself  in  such  a 
friend.  How  much  more  should  we  do  this  when 
God  has  sent  us  his  word,  and  has  set  his  seal  to  it. 
■  that,  by  two  immutable  things,  in  which  it  was  im- 
possible for  God  to  lie,  we  might  have  strong  consola- 
tion who  have  fled  for  refuge  to  lay  hold  on  the  hope 
set  before  us !' 

In  the  history  before  us,  God  speaks  generally  to  the 
heart.  Christ  does  not  say,  in  this  case,  "  /  will  re- 
move the  stone  for  they  could  do  that :  "  But,  as  to 
raising  thy  brother,  that  you  cannot  do,  because  it  i- 
ihe  work  of  God ;  that  /  will  do." 

Be  on  your  guard.  Brethren,  against  all  enthusiasti< 
personal  revelations.  It  is  our  duty  to  take  this  word  : 
to  rest  on  its  general  assurances ;  and  in  particular 
cases,  to  take  it  to  God.  and  pray  that  he  would  fulfil  it 
in  our  particular  instance.  Were  our  Lord  to  return 
to  earth,  and  to  treat  us  with  the  particular  friendship 
and  familiarity  with  which  he  treated  Lazarus,  and  we 
were  to  put  a  variety  of  anxious  and  curious  questions 
to  him.  we  may  conclude  that  he  would  only  reply. 

Said  I  not  enough  to  thee  on  the  subject It  was  a 
full  and  satisfactory  promise  that  I  made  thee ; — Call 
upon  me  in  the  day  of  trouble,  and  Iicill  delher  thee.''' 

Let  us  learn,  then,  to  think  honourably  of  God  and 
of  his  word. 

IV.  We  remark,  once  more,  that,  while  THE  EX- 
ERCISE OF  FAITH  IS  DIFFICULT.  IT  IS 
MOST  HIGHLY  HONOURED. 

To  ■  walk  by  faith,  and  not  by  sight,'  is  the  most 
painful  of  all  duties :  yet  it  is  that  particular  walk, 
and  the  exercise  of  that  particular  grace,  on  which 
God  puts  most  distinguished  honour.    "  Said  I  not. 


THE  POWER  OF  FAITH. 


199 


that,  if  thou  wouldst  believe,  thou  shouldest  see  the 
glory  of  God  ?'  As  if  he  had  said,  "  Martha !  look 
not  into  the  grave:  think  not  of  the  state  of  Lazarus' 
body  believe  not  your  senses  in  this  case,  contrary  to 
iny  report.  Credit  me  :  and,  however  difficult  it  ma} 
be  to  believe  that  a  putrid  carcase  shall  be  laised  to 
perform  all  the  functions  of  life :  yet,  if  you  can  trust 
me,  you  shall  see  the  fact." 

Here  Nature  stands  stripped  of  its  pride.  The 
language  of  the  opposers  of  Scripture  rests  upon  this 
principle  :  "  Do  not  my  eyes,  do  not  my  ears  tell  me 
this  and  that  ?  Am  not  I  to  rest  on  the  reason  which 
God  has  given  me  ?"  Remember,  that,  when  God 
speaks,  we  must  take  his  word  for  a  certainty ;  his  pro- 
mise, for  a  reality.  Here  nature  stands  stripped  :  but 
it  is  that  it  may  be  clothed  with  a  better  garment. 
Nature  is  apt  to  vex  and  fret:  its  language  is  like 
Naaman's :  it  stands  up  in  its  pride,  and  says,  "  Are 
not  Arbana  and  Pharpar  better  than  all  the  waters  of 
Israel?  And  why  dip  seven  times  ?  AVhy  more  than 
once  ?  And  Naanian  went  away  in  a  rage.''"'  But  a 
truly  humble  man  would  have  said,  "  What  are  Ar- 
bana and  Pharpar  to  me,  who  am  charged  to  wash  in 
Jordan  ?"  Such  would  have  been  the  sentiments  of 
Martha,  had  she  remembered  who  spoke  :  "  What  are 
apparent  impossibilities  here  ?  The  Lord  God  Al- 
mighty stands  before  me,  clothed  in  human  nature, 
and  says,  'Martha!  Trust  me,  and  you  shall  see  my 
power.'  " 

In  this  way,  we  must  use  God's  word.  Does  he 
say,  '  Call  upon  me  in  the  day  of  trouble  ?' — it  is  not 
for  us,  then,  in  seeming  impossibilities,  to  limit  the 
power  of  the  Holy  One  of  Israel :  to  say,  '  He  has 
provided  bread,  but  can  he  give  flesh  also?'  as  the 
murmuring  Jews  did.  The  true  posture.  Brethren, 
of  dependent  and  needy  creatures,  like  us,  is  to  re- 
linquish the  reasonings  of  sense,  to  believe  God's 
Word,  and  to  wait  for  its  fulfilment. 


200 


SERMON  XX. 


When  Abraham,  '  the  father  of  the  faithful,'  took 
Isaac  his  son,  and  offered  him  up,  in  intention,  and 
therefore  actually  in  the  sight  of  God,  it  is  said,  in  the 
xith  chapter  to  the  Hebrews,  that  he  believed  '  God 
was  able  to  raise  him  up  even  from  the  dead.'  As 
though  he  had  said,  "  Surely,  he,  in  whom  all  the  fam- 
ilies of  the  earth  are  to  be  blessed,  is  not  now  to  be 
cut  off!  God  will  fultil  his  word,  and  raise  him  from 
the  dead." 

'  To-morrow,  about  this  time,'  said  EHsha,  (2  Kings,.  . 
vii.)  'shall  a  measure  of  fine  flour  be  sold  for  a  she- 
kel, and  two  measures  of  barley  for  a  shekel,  in  the 
;^ate  of  Samaria  :'  that  is,  there  shall  be  great  abun- 
dance instead  of  the  present  famine.  But,  'a  lord, 
on  whose  hand  the  king  leaned,'  asked  with  scorn, 
■  If  the  Lord  would  make  windows  in  heaven,  might 
this  thing  be  ?' — '  Behold,'  said  the  prophet,  '  thou 
shaltsee  it  with  thine  eyes'  but  shalt  not  eat  thereof.' 

I  mention  not  these  things  to  show  the  ignorance, 
the  weakness  and  the  depravity  of  this  or  that  man  ; 
but  the  blindness,  the  weakness,  and  depravity  which 
degrade  your  heart  and  mine.  I  know  what  it  is  to 
offend  herein,  and  to  say,  "  This  is  impossible  !  How 
shall  I  escape  this  difficulty?"  But  he  who  speaks 
thus,  forgets  the  power  and  faithfulness  of  God.  The 
path  of  duty  is  before  us  :  we  must '  sow  our  seed  in 
the  morning,  and  in  the  evening  withhold  not  our 
hand  :  we  must  sow  the  seed  of  spiritual  instruction 
among  our  children  :  we  must  not  say,  "  How  can  1 
give  life  to  this  dead  child  ?  how  can  1  turn  this  pro- 
digal from  the  error  of  his  ways  ?  We  must  do  our 
duty  to  our  children,  servants  and  connections,  and 
wait  for  the  '  day  spring  from  on  high'  to  shine  on  the 
workj  and  raise  up  the  seed.  We  must  say,  "  What  1 
cannot  do,  God  can.  All  things  are  possible  with 
him." 

The  very  trials,  then,  which  we  meet  with  in  life- 
are?  in  the  hand  of  God,  our  spiritual  instructors. 


THE  POWER  OF  FAITH. 


201 


Have  you,  like  Martha,  waited  througli  days  of 
darkness  and  weeks  of  perplexity  '!  Have  you  suffered 
in  your  spirit  ;  and  been  ready  to  despair,  through  a 
powerful  temptation  and  an  unbelieving  heart  ? — May 
not  the  Lord  of  Life  say  to  you,  as  he  did  to  Martha, 
■■ '  Saul  I  not  unto  thee,  that  if  thou  wouldest  believe,' 
and  go  forward  in  the  path  of  duty,  under  my  direc- 
tion, resting  on  the  truth  and  honour  of  my  character, 
•  thou  shouldest  see  the  glory  of  God,'  notwithstand- 
the  darkness  and  crookedness  of  the  way  ?  Ask  your- 
selves what  God  has  said  ;  what  assurance  he  has 
given  you  ;  what  assurance  he  has  given  to  every  one 
to  whom  he  has  given  his  word.  Said  he  not  to  thee 
something  on  every  point  interesting  to  thee  ?  I  chal- 
lenge you  to  say  that  he  has  not.  There  is  not  a  man 
on  earth,  to  whom  he  has  not  given  counsel,  and 
direction,  and  consolation  in  his  Word.  Did  yon 
over  repent,  in  time  past,  your  putting  honour  on  this 
Word  ?  Are  not  many  of  us  witnesses,  that,  in  the 
most  necessitous  cases,  we  have  had  cause  to  say, 
•'  He  has  heard  me  in  the  day  of  trouble,  when  I  call- 
ed upon  him  at  his  command  ;  and  he  delivered  me 
out  of  all  my  distresses  !" 

Oh  !  that  men  who  are  dying  out  of  this  world,  who 
must  soon  come  into  the  state  in  which  Lazarus  was, 
of  each  of  whom  it  will  soon  be  said,  'He  has  been 
dead  these  four  days' — Oh,  that  you  and  1  could  now 
listen  to  the  Lord  of  Life  in  what  he  here  says  !  For 
he  speaks  not  of  Lazarus  alone  ;  but  he  speaks  to  us 
all :  '  Thy  brother  shall  rise  again.  I  know,'  says 
Martha,  '  that  he  shall  rise  again  in  the  resurrection  at 
the  last  day. — I,'  said  he, 'am  the  resurrection  and 
the  life.  He  that  believeth  in  me,  though  he  were 
(lead  yet  shall  he  live  ;  and  whosoever  liveth  and  be- 
lieveth in  me,  shall  never  die.' 

Behold  our  remedy  for  the  misery  of  the  grave ! 
Though  it  be  dark,  a  beam  of  light  is  let  into  it.  Here 
is  comfort  for  a  dyiVig  bed  :  not  the  lying  comfort  of 

vor..  II.  18*' 


202 


SERMON  XX. 


the  Atheist,  the  Moralist,  or  the  Philosopher,  who  te\h 
us,  "  It  is  the  debt  of  nature !"  What  consolation  does 
that  thought  yield?  But  here  is  the  Prince  of  Life, 
saying,  "  Though  thou  art  dying,  though  there  is  a 
bottomless  pit  infinitely  more  dreadful  than  the  grave, 
yet  come  ye  unto  me,  '  Why  will  ye  die  ?'  " 

Who,  then,  is  he  that  thinks  religion  a  melancholy 
thing  ?  It  is  the  only  friend  that  can  help  us  in  life  or 
death.  God  grant  that  we  may  adopt  its  principles, 
and  walk  in  its  practices  ;  and  he,  that  believes  and 
trusts  it,  shall  see  the  glory  of  God. 


SERMON  XXI. 


FELIX  TREMBLING. 

Acts,  XXIV,  24,  25. 

Aud  alter  ceilain  days,  when  Felix  came  with  his  wife  Drusilla. 
which  was  a  Jewess,  he  sent  for  Paul,  and  heard  him  concerning 
the  faith  in  Christ.  And,  as  he  reasoned  of  Righteousness,  Tem- 
perance, and  Judgment  to  come,  Felix  trembled;  and  answered, 
go  thy  way  for  this  time ;  when  I  have  a  convenient  season,  I  will 
call  for  thee. 

We  may  lay  it  down  as  a  maxim,  that,  soon  oi 
late,  pride  and  power  will  sink  before  truth  and 
righteousness. 
Let  us, 

1.  State  the  case  of  the  text. 

2.  Draw  some  general  inferences  from  the 
oubject. 

I.  Let  us  attend  to  the  CIRCUMSTANCES  here 
recorded. 

St.  Paul  had  been  sent  from  the  Jews  to  the  Roman 
Government.    He  stands  before  Fehx. 

Who  was  this  Felix  ?  he  had  certainly  freed  the 
country  from  some  abuses ;  but  historians  agree  thai 
he  was  a  wicked,  cruel,  and  covetous  man :  he  was 
oppressive  and  unjust,  with  respect  to  the  Jews :  he 
had  procured  the  murder  of  Jonathan,  the  High 
Priest ;  and  he  hvcd  in  adultery  with  this  Drusilla. 
Drusilla  was  the  daughter  of  Herod  Agrippa :  she 
had  been  brought  up  in  the  Jewish  religion  :  she  was 
a  celebrated  beauty ;  and  Felix  had  persuaded  her  to 
forsake  her  husband  Azizus,  and  to  marry  himself  who 
was  a  pagan. 


204 


SERMON  XXI. 


Now  the  text  informs  us,  that,  '  after  certain  days, 
when  Felix  came  with  his  wife  Drusilla,  which  was 
a  Jewess,  he  sent  for  Paul,  and  heard  him  concerning 
the  faith  in  Christ:  that  is,  be  heard  Paul  state  his 
views  of  Christianity  ;  and  he  heard  him  make  an  ap- 
plication of  the  discourse. 

He  heard  him  '  reason  of  righteousness,  temper- 
ance, and  judgment  to  come :'  he  argued  from  the 
facts  which  he  had  stated  in  a  rational  way,  and 
he  made  a  powerful  address  to  the  consciences  of  his 
hearers. 

He  reasoned  with  them  on  righteousness  and  jus- 
tice. He  showed  that  there  was  a  standard,  which 
God  himself  had  set  up,  quite  contrary  to  the  corrupt 
maxims  of  the  world :  he  showed  the  sanctions  of 
these  truths,  in  opposition  to  those  who  say,  '  Tush! 
thou  God  will  not  regard  it.'  And  he  showed  also 
the  righteousness  that  God  had  set  forth  in  the  cross  of 
Jesus  Christ ;  for  he  reasoned  with  them  concerning 
the  faith  in  Christ :  as  if  he  had  said,  "  Justice  is  here 
set  forth  in  the  strictest  and  most  effectual  manner : 
'  righteousness  and  peace  kiss  each  other.'  " 

And  he  reasoned  not  only  concerning  righteousness 
and  justice,  but  concerning  temperance  or  chastity. 
He  showed,  before  an  adulterer,  how  wretched  a  mis- 
take a  fallen  spirit  makes,  that,  while  he  is  hastening 
to  eternity,  he  commits  himself  to  the  pleasures  of  a 
brute.  He  showed  them  how  incapable  such  a  man 
must  be,  as  to  any  thing  like  friendship  with  God ;  for 
'whoremongers  and  adulterers  God  will  judge.' 

He  reasoned  also  concerning  'judgment  to  come.' 
No  doubt  he  showed  them,  that  a  judgment  to  come  is 
to  be  expected  from  the  unequal  distribution  of  things 
in  this  world  :  and  ai^ued  on  the  certainty  of  it,  from 
the  declarations  of  Scripture  :  "  Enoch,  who  prophe- 
sied the  seventh  from  Adam.  said.  Behold,  the  Lord 
cometh  with  ten  thousand  of  his  saints :'  Daniel  had 


FELIX  TREMBLIiNG. 


pointed  out  the  terrors  of  the  Great  Day  :  Christ  had 
described  the  process  of  the  Last  Judgment.  He 
showed,  doubtless,  that  nothing  was  more  plain  than 
Ihese  truths,  and  yet  nothing  more  important. 

But,  as  he  reasoned  on  these  subjects,  '  Felix  trem- 
bled for  Felix  was  not  ignorant  of  these  things :  he 
felt  how  justly  the  Apostle  sj)ake — how  rcasonabl}'. 
and  simply — how  sincerely,  and  faithfully.  If  a  man 
will  hear  and  take  the  word  of  God  for  his  standard, 
lie  must  fear  and  tremble  when  he  hears  what  God 
says  of  man  dying  an  unpardoned  and  impenitent 
sinner. 

But  what  is  the  conduct  of  Felix  ?  '  Go  thy  way 
tor  this  time,'  says  he :  '  when  I  have  a  convenient 
season,  I  will  call  for  thee.    Go  thy  way.' 

The  truth,  when  believed  and  felt,  will  always  make 
a  man  dislike  either  himself  or  the  minister  who  sets 
it  forth.    Ahab  could  not  bear  the  preacher  of  truth : 

•  There  is  one  prophet  more,'  says  he :  '  but  I  hate 
him  ;  for  he  does  not  speak  good  concerning  me,  but 
evil :'  because  there  was  nothing  good  to  be  said  of 
him  ;  but  Ahab  hated  the  preacher. 

'  Go  thy  way  for  this  time :'  "  Let  me  put  off  the 
evil  day  a  little  longer:  I  would  fain  shake  off  my 
conviction."  Is  not  this  the  old  trade  of  sinners  ?  Is 
it  not  evident  how  much  men  wish  to  put  away  these 
considerations  ?  They  cannot  deny  the  truth ;  and 
yet — '  Go  thy  way  for  this  time  :  when  I  have  a  more 
convenient  season,  I  will  send  for  thee.' 

Here  is  an  old  device  of  Satan  :  "  You  will  not  die 
just  yet:  have  a  little  longer  pleasure:  go  on  in  thy 
ways  of  vice  :  think  of  it  at  some  future  season."  It 
is  even  said  of  St.  Austin,  that  part  of  his  prayer  used 
to  be,  "  O  Lord,  make  me  a  good  man,  but  not  yet !" 

•  Go  thy  way  for  this  time  :  when  I  have  a  more  con- 
venient season  1  will  send  for  thee.' 

II.  The  subject,  thus  opened,  brings  before  us  some 
general  CONSIDERATIONS. 


SERMON  XXI. 


1»  You  see,  ray  dear  hearers,  from  this  passage  of 
Scripture  History,  what  is  the  duty  of  a  minister. 

St.  Paul  had  given  an  account  of  Christianity  ;  but 
he  neither  considers  the  greatness  of  the  persons  be- 
fore him,  nor  does  he  bend  to  their  taste  and  notions, 
nor  does  he  consider  his  own  safety.  He  preaches 
justice,  to  an  oppressor :  he  preaches  chastity,  to  an 
adulteress  :  he  preaches  judgment  to  come,  to  a  judge 
on  the  judgment-seat,  while  he  himself  is  the  priso- 
ner. Truth  will  pay  no  undue  respect  to  persons. 
We  may  bow  to  truth  ;  but  truth  will  not  bow  to  us. 
Truth  will  aim  at  the  conscience  ;  and  St.  Paul,  the 
Minister  of  Truth,  will  prefer  the  salvation  of  a  single 
soul  to  his  own  safety ;  and  he  will  labour,  even  when 
there  is  little  prospect  of  success. 

But,  let  me  ask :  Must  a  Minister  be  less  faithful 
now  ?  Are  men  now  less  dead  in  trespasses  and  sins  ? 
Are  they  less  deceived  by  Satan  ?  Have  they  a  more 
just  view  of  the  state  in  which  they  stand  ?  Are  their 
souls  less  valuable  ? — Recollect,  if  the  truth  at  any 
time  appear  but  little  grateful  to  your  feelings,  let 
whatever  be  the  consequence,  whether  you  will  hear 
or  whether  you  will  forbear,  I  am  bound  to  declare  it. 

You  see,  therefore,  from  this  history,  the  duty  of  a 
Minister. 

2.  Let  us  consider  the  force  of  truth. 

The  more  plainly  truth  is  set  forth,  the  more  keenly 
will  it  be  felt :  the  more  important  it  is,  the  more  af- 
fecting it  must  be  :  the  more  consistently  delivered 
by  an  honest  man,  who  is  himself  under  its  power  and 
influence,  it  will  be  the  more  penetrating. 

Drusilla,  being  a  Jewess,  might  possibly  shroud 
herself  under  her  Jewish  privileges ;  and  might  take 
up  the  sentiment  of  those  who  cried,  '  The  temple  of 
the  Lord,  the  temple  of  the  Lord,  are  we  ! — In  the 
course  of  my  ministry.  I  have  found  none  so  impene- 
trable to  truth,  as  those  who  shroud  themselves  under 
the  privileges  of  their  Church — a  set  of  formalists. 


206 


i'ELlX  TREMBLING. 


207 


that  say,  "Do  not  we  belong  to  the  True  Church?" 
But  what  is  the  state  of  your  hearts  ?  Have  you  the 
fear  of  God  in  your  hearts,  or  are  you  resting  on  your 
outward  privileges  ? 

Felix,  indeed,  could  not  thus  shelter  himself  from 
( onviction.  It  is  no  wonder,  therefore,  when  he 
heard  the  truth  so  plainly,  that  he  trembled,  though 
he  did  not  turn  to  God ;  for,  like  Agrippa,  he  kne\A 
something  more  than  Drusilla.  Greatness  cannot 
support  us  against  truth.  Belshazzar  may  revel  in 
the  midst  of  his  lords  and  concubines ;  yet  if  God 
write  upon  the  wall,  his  loins  will  tremble,  his  great- 
ness will  not  save  him.  Plain  truth  was  here  propo- 
sed to  Felix :  a  faithful  preacher  set  it  forth  :  irresisti- 
ble conviction  took  place  :  an  arrow  entered  his  con- 
science :  Felix  trembled,  and  said,  '  Go  thy  way  foi- 
this  time :  when  I  have  a  convenient  season,  I  will 
send  for  thee.' 

Brethren !  learn  to  make  truth  your  friend  ;  for 
greatness  will  not  support  you  against  it.  If  Felix 
trembled  before  Paul,  who  stood  in  chains  as  his  priso- 
ner; what  will  Felix  feel,  when  he  comes  to  stand 
before  the  judgment-seat  of  Christ?  Who  would  nol 
then  wish  to  be  the  prisoner  Paul,  instead  of  tlie  gove- 
ner  Felix  ?  It  was  a  just  sentiment  of  Colonel  Gardi- 
ner, Avhen  he  said,  "  I  fear  God,  and  have  none  else 
to  fear." 

3.  Let  us  consider  also,  from  this  passage,  the 

UECEITFULNESS   OF  SIN. 

What  miserable  evasions  are  here,  when  the  truth 
is  so  plainly  set  before  him  !  Nay,  worse  than  eva- 
sions :  for  '  he  hoped  that  money  should  have  been 
given  him  of  Paul,  that  he  might  loose  him !  where- 
fore he  sent  for  him  the  oftener,  and  communed  with 
him  but  because  the  Apostle  would  not  use  money 
for  this  purpose,  if  he  had  it,  '  Felix,  willing  to  show 
the  Jews  a  pleasure,  left  Paul  bound.'  Such,  you  see, 
is  the  deceitfulness  of  sin,  that  many  will  triflfe  with 


208 


SERMON  XXI. 


God  and  with  their  convictions  :  they  will  regard  their 
?elf-intere«t  and  the  good-will  of  men.  as  Felix  did. 
more  than  the  truth  and  the  fear  of  God. 

You  may  behold  in  these  tn  o  men,  a  kind  of  ab- 
stract of  the  whole  world. 

Here  is  a  great  man. — a  governor ;  who  seems  to 
-ay,  "  How  shall  I  manage  things  at  this  time  ?  How 
shall  I  extract  a  little  money  from  this  prisoner  ?" 
Mean  and  contemptible  spirit ! 

And  here  stands  a  man  in  chains  before  him  ;  who 
seems  to  see  nothing  but  the  things  of  eternity,  and 
the  way  of  salvation  by  Jesus  Christ,  for  whom  lie  ha> 
suffered  the  loss  of  all  things,  and  determines  to  suffer 
the  loss  of  even  life  itself,  that  he  may  win  the  prize 
of  his  high  calUng  ! 

These  are  not  new  characters.  In  the  thirty-third 
chapter  of  Ezekiel.  God  says  to  his  prophet,  "Lo. 
thou  art  unto  them  as  a  very  lovely  song,  of  one  thai 
hath  a  pleasant  voice,  and  can  play  well  on  an  instru- 
ment ;  for  they  hear  thy  words,  but  they  do  them  not 
— their  heart  goeth  after  their  covetousness.'  And. 
for  St.  Paul,  he  was  only  one  of  the  same  stamp,  and 
*tock,  and  cast,  that  Moses  had  long  before  exhibited  : 
■  he  counted  the  reproach  of  Christ  greater  riches  than 
all  the  treasures  of  Eg}"pt.' 

You  see,  then,  whence  it  is,  that  the  Gospel  comes 
to  be  so  slighted  :  it  is  this  deceitfulness  of  sin :  it  i^ 
this  love  of  present  things  :  it  is  this  apostasy  from 
God.  •  The  God  of  this  world.'  says  the  Apostle, 
'has  blinded  the  eyes  of  them  that  believe  not:'  the 
love  of  the  world  has  overwhelmed  them  :  the  fear  of 
man  keeps  them  prisoners :  and  Satan  for^vards  the 
delusion;  You  cannot  deny  the  truth."'  as  if  he  had 
said :  "  You  cannot  suspect  the  truth  of  what  Paul 
says ;  but  you  can  put  off  the  matter :  you  can  hear 
iiim  at  a  more  convenient  season  :  you  can  go  on  en- 
joying yourself;  and,  when  your  conscience  is  moTC 
hardened,  you  can  hear  him  again." 


FELIX  TREMBLINC;. 


209 


Ye,  who  talk  ,  of  a  more  convenient  season— ye, 
who  think  of  putting  off  religion  to  a  death-bed — 
this  is  one  of  the  grand  devices  of  Satan  to  keep  you 
as  he  would  wish  you  to  be.  '  The  strong  man  armed 
kecpeth  his  goods  in  peace,'  while  he  can  ;  but  it  is  my 
duty  to  come,  in  the  name  of  the  stronger  than  he, 
and  show  you  the  necessity  of  this  armour  being 
■spoiled,  before  you  can  enter  into  the  happiness  pre- 
pared for  the  children  of  God. 

4.  I  shall  only  add,  that  we  are  here  taught  the 

MATURE   AND   NECESSITY   OF   DIVINE  GRACE. 

Even  St.  Paul  may  preach,  and  his  character  can- 
not be  suspected :  the  truth  he  preaches  cannot  be 
denied :  he  reasons  plainly  and  convincingly :  Felix 
can  oply  reply,  with  trembling,  "  I  will  hear  thee 
again :"  now  the  necessity  of  divine  grace  appears 
from  this,  that,  till  the  man  is  under  its  influence,  he 
will  continue  to  say,  '  When  I  have  a  convenient  sea- 
son, I  will  send  for  thee.'  Without  the  grace  of  God, 
and  the  work  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  the  utmost  that  a 
preacher  can  hope  to  do,  is,  to  rouse  the  sinner,  as 
Paul  did  Felix — to  make  him  tremble  to  think  of  what 
is  before  him,  as  Felix  trembled ;  and  a  time  may, 
perhaps,  come,  when  he  will  say,  as  Agrippa  did, 
"Almost  thou  persuadest  me  to  be  a  Christian." 
Abraham  did  not  reply  to  the  rich  man,  that,  if  one 
arose  from  the  dead,  his  brethren  would  not  tremble : 
but  he  said  they  would  not  believe,  or  be  persuaded : 
they  would  not  be  persuaded  to  tread  in  the  narrow 
path,  and  lay  hold  on  eternal  life. 

You  see,  then,  the  nature  and  necessity  of  divine 
grace.  Without  this,  man's  religion  would  be  merely 
external :  it  would  be  but  '  the  form  of  godliness, 
without  the  power.'  You  see  its  eflicacy,  also  :  for  this 
man, — a  man  of  consequence  and  looked  up  to, — was 
so  determined  on  the  wrong  side,  that  he  persecuted  to 
death  every  Christian  on  whom  he  could  lay  his  hands  : 
but,  when  divine  grace  opens  his  heart,  he  stands  in 

vor,.  ir,  10 


210 


SERMON  XXI. 


chains,  and,  at  the  peril  of  his  ovm  life,  preaches  the 
Gospel  to  Drusilla  the  adulteress,  and  Felix  the  adul- 
terer ;  and,  having  fought  manfully,  surrendered  him- 
self to  all  consequences,  '  esteeming  the  reproach  of 
Christ  greater  riches  than  the  treasures  of  Egypt/ 
As  if  St.  Paul  had  said,  "  I  expected  this  issue.  If 
God  does  not  impress  this  truth  on  the  heart  of  the 
adulterer,  he  will  hate  me  the  more  :  he  will  probably 
put  me  to  death  :  but  I  must  speak  the  truth,  and  then 
t  can  say,  '  I  have  fought  a  good  fight :  I  have  finished 
my  course  :  I  have  kept  the  faith  and.  whatever  Fe- 
lix may  do,  '  henceforth  there  is  laid  up  for  me  a  crown 
of  righteousness,  which  the  Lord,  the  Righteous  Judge, 
shall  give  to  me  at  that  day  ;  and  not  to  me  onl}'.  but 
unto  all  them  also  that  love  his  appearing.' " 


SERMON  XXIJ. 


I  HE  FASHION  OF  THE  WORLJX 

1  Con.  vii,  31. 
For  the  fashion  of  this  world  passetli  away. 

rHE  Apostle  had  been  discussing  one  of  the  Cases  ol 
Conscience,  presented  to  him  by  the  Corinthian 
Church.  He  brings  it,  at  length,  to  a  general  reflec- 
tion on  the  subject :  '  This  I  say,  brethren,  the  time  is 
short.  It  remaineth,  that  both  they  that  have  wives, 
be  as  though  they  had  none ;  and  they  that  weep,  as 
though  they  wept  not ;  and  they  that  rejoice,  as  though 
they  rejoiced  not ;  and  they  that  buy,  as  though  thej 
possessed  not ;  and  they  that  use  this  world,  as  not 
abusing  it:  for  the  fashion  of  this  world  passeth 
away.' 

I  shall  consider  the  general  proposition  in  the  text, 
without  any  particular  reference  to  the  specific  case 
to  which  it  may  be  applied,  whether  marriage,  or 
politics,  or  commerce.  It  is  a  general  truth  of  vast 
importance.  '  The  fashion  of  this  world  passeth 
away.' 

I  shall, 

1.  Illustrate  the  sense  of  the  passage  : 

2.  Draw  some  practical  inferences  from  the 
position. 

I.  I  have  to  state  and  illustrate  the  SENSE. 

Grotius  says  on  this  passage,  that  the  expression 
has  an  allusion  to  a  theatre,  where  the  Scheme,  as  the 
word  means  literally  which  we  translate  Fashion,  the 


212 


SERMON  XXII. 


Scheme,  the  Image,  the  Form,  the  Representation  is 
wholly  changed. 

Another  writer  will  read  it,  '  The  Scene  of  this 
world  passeth  away.'  The  actors  in  a  drama  sustain 
various  characters :  the  scenes  are  continually  chang- 
ing :  some  actors  stand  forward  as  the  heroes  of  the 
drama;  and  some  lurk  behind  the  scenes,  as  obscurt 
characters ;  and  all  these  masked,  in  the  ancient  thea- 
tres :  at  length  the  curtain  drops,  and  the  scenes  arc 
over.  This  presents  to  us  a  very  striking  picture  of 
life  ;  a  continually  changing  scene,  that  passeth  away. 

But  I  prefer  the  manner  in  which  Archbishop 
Leighton  considers  the  passage.  He  treats  it  as  if  i( 
were  thus  written  :  '  The  pageant  of  this  world  passeth 
away :'  it  is  a  mere  procession  ;  at  best,  but  a  pageant. 
As  a  pageant  or  show,  in  the  street,  soon  gets  afar  off, 
and  is  quickly  out  of  sight,  thus  is  it  with  respect  to 
the  present  world.  For,  says  he,  what  is  become  "  of 
all  the  marriage  solemnities  of  kings  and  princes  of 
former  ages,  which  they  were  so  taken  up  with  in  their 
time  ?  When  we  read  of  them  described  in  history, 
they  are  as  a  night-dream,  or  as  a  day-fancy,  which 
passeth  through  the  mind,  and  vanisheth !" 

Who  has  not  looked  into  history,  and  felt  this  strike 
him,  as  one  of  the  first  facts  :  "  It  is  all  gone  by !  a 
mere  pageant !"  An  old  man  has  seen  most  of  the  pa- 
geants of  his  time  pass  by :  he  remembers  the  mighty 
actors  of  his  youth ;  but  they  are  gone !  those,  who 
made  the  most  splendid  appearance  in  the  procession, 
are  passed  by  long  ago  :  he  is  ready  to  say,  "  All  is 
show  !  All  is  pageant !  It  is  but  the  shifting  of  a  scene." 

And  what  is  this  more  than  what  the  Scripture 
taught  us  before  ?  In  the  xxxixth  Psalm,  we  find  Da- 
vid saying,  '  Surely  every  man  walketh  in  a  vain  show  : 
surely  they  are  disquieted  in  vain :  he  heapeth  up 
riches,  and  knoweth  not  who  shall  gather  them.'  II" 
he  makes  a  show,  it  is  a  vain  show.  If  he  is  disquiet- 
ed, agitated  exceedingly  in  his  schemes  and  projects, 


THE  FASHION  OF  THE  WORLD.  213 


it  is  in  vain.  If  he  heaps  up  riches,  and  is  ready  to 
say,  "  At  least  there  is  something  in  this  !  Property  is 
the  grand  thing  in  the  world !" — he  heaps  up  riches, 
and  knoweth  not  who  shall  come  immediately  and 
take  them  away  !  "  And  now,'  Lord,'  says  he,  '  what 
wait  I  for?'  Man  walketh  in  such  a  vain  show,  the 
pageant  of  this  world  so  passeth  away,  that  I  must 
have  something  greater  and  better,  more  solid,  more 
substantial. 

Thus  St.  John  expresses  it: — 'The  world  passeth 
away,  and  the  lust  thereof.'  It  matters  not  of  what 
importance  man  is  found  to  be  of  in  his  time ;  nor 
liow  much  he  may  build,  or  plant,  or  boast,  or  per- 
form :  he  has  but  his  stated  time.  The  summons 
comes :  he  must  go.  Another  actor  takes  his  place  : 
another  steps  into  the  procession.  He  also  soon  goes, 
and  gives  place  to  another :  so  that  there  scarcely 
seems  any  thing  on  earth  more  evident  than  the  truth 
in  the  text — that  '  the  pageant  of  this  world  passeth 
by.' 

II.  Having  thus  considered  the  Sense  of  the  pas- 
sage, let  us  proceed,  as  I  proposed,  to  draw  some 
practical  INFERENCES  from  the  position. 

1 .  Jf,  as  we  have  seen,  the  pageant  of  this  world 
passes  by,  we  may  collect  how  little  worldlings 

KNOW  OF  THAT  WORLD  OF  WHICH  THEY  PROFESS 
TO   KNOW   so   MUCH  ! 

"  I  know  the  world,"  says  one  of  them  :  "  nobody 
can  tell  my  any  thing  about  this  world.  I  have  had 
long  experience.  I  have  seen  into  the  matter.  1  am 
not  to  be  deceived  like  young  people,  or  to  be  impo- 
sed upon  by  show.  I  have  remarked  by  long  expe- 
rience, that  it  is  a  farce  which  is  acted  on  the  stage  of 
life"  ....  You  know  the  world  ? — You  know  no- 
thing of  the  world  to  purpose !  For  what  does  the 
Miser  know  of  this  world,  who  is  'heaping  up  riches, 
while  he  cannot  tell  who  shall  gather  them  ?'  What 
does  the  Politician  know  of  this  world,  whose  politic? 

VOL.  IT.  19* 


214 


SERMON  XXII. 


are  founded  entirely  upon  some  measure,  that  is  but 
for  a  moment  ?  What  does  the  Ambitious  Man  know 
of  this  world,  who  is  building  on  a  wave  ?  What  doef: 
the  Pleasure-Taker  know  of  this  world,  who  grasps  it 
as  his  portion,  while  it  is  vanishing  away  ? 

If  I  see  a  child  building  on  the  sand ;  taking  his  ad- 
vantage while  the  tide  is  gone  down,  and  there  is  some 
dry  sand  for  him  to  build  his  house  on  and  amuse  him- 
self, thinking  it  will  stand — I  say,  "  It  is  a  child !  he 
does  not  consider  that  the  tide  is  coming  in,  and  will 
wash  it  all  away!"  If  I  see  another  child  overjoyed: 
its  little  heart  tilled  with  the  consideration  that  it  is 
going  to  see  a  procession,  like  that  which  passed  in  thii^ 
week  ;*  quite  satisfied  to  think  it  shall  see  a  sight,  noi 
looking  beyond  this — I  say,  "  It  is  a  child !  This  is 
natural !"  It  is  nothing  to  that  child  whether  it  is  a 
coronation  or  a  funeral :  the  child  makes  no  moi'al  re- 
flections on  the  subject.  I  wish  this  could  be  said  only 
of  children.  I  wish  it  could  be  said  of  no  person  of 
mature  growth,  That  they  will  see  such  a  procession, 
and  make  no  moral  reflection  on  it. 

Brethren,  the  men  of  this  world  actually  know  buf 
iittle  of  .  .tjie  world,  because  they  take  not  the  Bible  for 
their  instructor !  The  little  that  man  can  do  for  man 
enters  not  into  their  thoughts !  A  nation  may  unite  in 
determining  to  honour  an  extraordinary  character,  and 
one  justly  lamented — yet  how  little  can  man  do  for 
man ! — he  can  dress  out  his  funeral !  he  can  pronounce 
a  pompous  oration !  he  can  rear  a  statue  !  How  feeble, 
how  evanescant,  yet  how  imposing  the  scene !  But  the 
acene  shifts,  and  patron  and  client  are  both  gone !  No 
doubt,  in  their  day,  a  vast  sensation  was  raised  in  the 
respective  nations  of  such  men  as  Pharaoh  and  Sen- 
nacherib— "  What  will  posterity  say  of  this  !" — What  ? 
— Posterity  has  its  own  pageants  to  admire !  In  the 
days  of  Alexander,  and  Caesar,  and  Tamerlane,  a  vast 
-sensation  was  doubtless  raised  with  respect  to  the  pa- 

AUudirig-  to  the  Public  Funei  nl  of  I.orcl  ISehon.        J.  P, 


THE  FASHION  OF  THE  WORLD.  215 


geant  that  was  then  passing ;  and  '  great  sweUing  words 
of  vanity'  were  heard  concerning  the  immense  affair 
then  in  hand !  If  any  thing  could  make  angels  M'eep,  i( 
must  surely  be  the  beholding  of  such  effects  on  men 
from  the  passing  pageant  of  this  world. 

Let  us  consider,  therefore,  Brethren,  how  little  real 
knowledge  the  worldling  has  of  the  world.  He  builds- 
all  liis  hope  on  this  unstable  foundation.  He  is  disqui- 
eted in  vain. 

I  speak  to  young  people.  Shall  such  men  be  youi 
guide  ?  Shall  such  men  form  your  sentiments  ?  Will 
you  study  to  be  in  reputation  with  such  men  ;  and  thus 
build,  like  them,  on  the  sand !  Young  man  !  read  thy 
Bible:  hear  God:  form  your  sentiments,  so  as  thai 
they  will  bear  examining  ten  thousand  ages  hence : 
then  you  will  be  truly  wise  :  but,  till  then,  you  will 
not,  while  living  in  this  world,  judge  rightly  concerning 
it ;  for  it  is  but  as  a  procession,  or  a  pageant,  that 
passes  by. 

2.  If,  then,  the  scene  is  continually  changing,  i( 
there  is  nothing  here  like  rest  for  the  foot  of  man. 
then  I  would  remark,  how  gracious  is  it  in  god, 

TO  MEET  THE  WANTS  OF  A  GUILTY,  DYING  CREA- 
TURE,  LIKE   MAN,   IN   SUCH   A   WORLD   AS   THIS  ! 

//  is  appointed  unto  men  once  to  die  :  they  must  all 
vanish  after  the  procession  is  over,  as  to  the  eye  ol 
their  fellow-creatures  :  but  after  that,  the  judgment  ! 
Small  and  great  must  stand  before  the  bar  of  God. 
Our  Lord  shows  us,  in  St.  Luke's  Gospel,  a  striking 
picture  of  that  state.  The  rich  man  acted  a  conspic- 
uous part  in  the  passing  pageant,  and  the  poor  man  at 
his  gate  sustained  a  very  poor  one  ;  but  in  condescen- 
sion to  our  weakness,  it  pleased  our  Lord  to  take  us 
behind  the  scenes,  and  to  show  us  what  was  going  on 
after  the  pageant  was  passed.  And  why  did  he  shov\ 
us  the  rich  man  in  hell,  lifting  up  his  eyes  in  torments, 
and  Lazarus  taken  to  Abraham's  bosom  ? — why  ?  to 
terrify  the  mind  of  man  ? — rather,  let  me  say,  to  in- 


SER,MON  XXII. 


struct  his  mind  :  to  give  us  a  right  notion  of  charac- 
ter ;  to  show  us,  that  we  are  to  aim,  not  at  sustaining 
a  high  part  in  the  procession,  but  rightly  sustaining  the 
part  assigned  us. 

The  Son  of  God  himself  came  down,  and  passed  in 
the  procession  :  and  what  did  he  preach  as  he  passed '' 
— did  he  flatter  men  ;  and  speak  smooth  things  to 
please  them,  meeting  their  tastes  and  prejudices  ?  No  ? 
he  wept  over  Jerusalem  :  he  exposed  the  rich  fool, 
that  gloried  in  his  barns  and  in  his  goods  :  he  com- 
mended the  woman  that  sat  at  his  feet,  and  heard  his 
word,  as  seeking  the  one  thing  needful,  and  choosing 
vhe  better  part  that  should  never  be  taken  from  her. 
When  his  disciples  came  to  him,  to  show  him  the 
stones  and  great  buildings  of  the  temple,  was  he 
struck  with  the  scene  ?  "  Alas !"  says  he,  teaching 
them  as  a  father  would  his  children,  "  vour  eyes  have 
caught  the  spectacle  :  this  is  a  picture  that  strikes  you  : 
but  I  tell  you,  lhat  there  is  not  a  stone  here  that  shall 
be  left  upon  another.  1  see  it  as  dust.  I  see  the  end 
of  the  pageant :  it  is  passing  away  I  The  temple  itself, 
which  stands  like  a  rock,  the  glory  of  the  nation  ;  and 
■which  even  the  conqueror  shall  strive  to  save,  that  i( 
may  be  a  trophy  ;  even  that  shall  be  thrown  down, 
and  not  one  stone  left  upon  another." 

Who  is  then  the  wise  man,  while  the  earth  is  thu> 
moving  in  the  procession  ?  '"I  will  tell  you,'' 
our  Lord  said,  "  whom  he  is  like  :  he  is  like  a 
man  that  builds  his  house  upon  a  rock  :  the  floods 
may  come  :  the  waves  may  beat :  the  wind  may  blow  : 
but,  standing  upon  this  Rock  of  Ages,  he  shall  stand  : 
and,  while  others  are  passing  away,  he,  that  docth  the 
icill  of  God.  abidelh  for  erer." 

How  gracious  then  is  it  to  meet  the  wants  of  such 
an  evanescent  and  guilty  creature  as  man  ! — to  sho^ 
him  the  way  I — to  plant  the  footsteps  of  the  flock  be- 
fore him! — to  prove  to  him  what  will  not  bear  him 
up,  and  what  will ! 


217 


3.  If  the  pageant  of  this  world  passeth  by,  and 
this  truth  is  demonstrated  in  experience  as  well  as 
declared  in  Scripture,  and  yet  men  go  on  heedless  of 
all  consequences — how  infatuated  and  criminat. 

IS   THE   WORLDLING  ! 

How  beguiled  his  mind,  and  how  criminal  his  heart, 
if  he  will  still  act  against  all  experience,  and  all  the 
declarations  which  God  hath  made  !  When  a  ship  has 
been  wrecked,  and  no  hope  of  escape  remained,  the 
sailors  have  sometimes  been  so  infatuated,  that  de- 
spising every  consideration  most  suited  to  their  dan- 
ger, they  have  staved  the  liquor  casks ;  determining, 
that  when  there  wfis  no  hope  on  earth,  they  would  at 
least  die  in  the  midst  of  sensual  gratification  !  You  are 
ready  to  exclaim,  "  Surely  these  are  not  rational  crea- 
tures!" But  I  scruple  not  to  say,  that  if  you  continue 
to  live  a  careless  and  ungodly  life,  while  the  pageant 
of  this  world  is  passing,  and  die  in  that  state,  such  a 
wretched  sailor  is,  in  comparison,  more  rational  than 
you  are.  If  one  were  to  remonstrate  with  such  a 
stupid  creature,  it  is  probable  he  would  say,  "  There 
is  no  help.  1  may  live  half  an  hour ;  and  I  am  de- 
termined to  get  rid  of  what  sensibility  I  have,  in 
order  not  to  perceive  my  death,  and  enjoy  a  present 
gratification.  I  have  no  hope  !  no  prospect !  I  can 
do  nothing !" — But  no  man,  who  has  the  Gospel 
preached  in  his  ears,  can  say,  however  the  world 
passeth  away,  and  the  procession  is  advancing,  and 
with  many  of  us  almost  gone,  yet,  no  man  can  say, 
■'  There  is  no  help  :"  for  he  may  yet  flee  for  refuge  to 
the  hope  set  before  him  :  he  may  yet  place  his  foot 
on  the  rock  :  he  may  yet  escape  the  shipwreck  :  de- 
liverance is  proclaimed  whenever  the  Gospel  is 
preached,  and  whenever  the  Holy  Spirit  brings  any 
light  to  the  heart  of  man. 

The  decree  is  gone  forth  :  the  procession  must 
more  on,  whether  men  sleep  or  whether  they  awake  ; 


218 


SERMON  XXII. 


the  pageant  must  pass  :  but,  let  it  be  remembered, 
that  if  the  men  of  London  are  like  the  men  of  Athens, 
who  spent  their  time  wholly  in  inquiring  after  some 
new  thing ;  if  the  men  of  London  are  asking,  even 
while  the  procession  is  passing.  '"Can  you  tell  us  any 
news  ^  Can  you  inform  us  when  there  will  be  another 
sight  :*  Do  you  hear  of  any  fresh  amusement  that  is 
promised?" — then  I  say.  while  men  live  and  die  in 
this  manner — t^il^in^  with  their  time,  when  time  will 
soon  be  no  longer — let  them  call  themselves  any  thing 
but  sober — anything  but  virtuous— any  thing  but  re- 
ligious ;  for  God  calls  them  infatuated,  and  mere 
worshippers  of  their  present  idols  ! 

4.  Ministers  may  labour  to  stop  men  in  this  infatu- 
ated state,  and  to  convince  them  of  their  strange  levity 
of  heart  ;  but  let  us,  lastly,  remark  how  merciful 

IT   IS   IN  GOD,   TO   WEAN   AND    DRIVE   MEN  FROM  THE 

WORLD,  as  well  as  to  draw  them  by  the  iavitationa 
of  the  Gospel. 

If  our  friend's  house  is  on  fire,  we  would  bring  him 
out  kindly  and  carefully,  if  possible ;  but,  if  our 
persuasions  do  not  move  him,  we  drag  him  out  of 
danger  !  When  God  sent  a  message  to  Lot  in  Sodom, 
it  is  said,  that  '  he  lingered  :'  but  'the  men  laid  hold 
upon  his  hand,  and  upon  the  hand  of  his  wife,  and 
upon  the  hand  of  his  two  daughters,  the  Lord  being 
merciful  unto  him  :  and  they  brought  him  forth,  and 
set  him  without  the  city.'  It  is  thus  that  God  fre- 
quently acts  with  respect  to  us,  when  we  appear  to 
rest  satistied  with  the  pageant  as  it  passes.  It  is  a 
merciful  dispensation,  however  severe  and  mortifying 
to  the  feelings,  that  drives  thee,  Christian,  to  reflec- 
tion ;  that  rouses  thee  from  thy  sleep  of  death ;  that 
prevents  thy  perishing  in  thy  dream  ;  that  preaches 
to  thy  heart  ;  that  says,  This  is  not  your  rest,  it  is  pol- 
luted. 

My  dear  liearers,  what  practical  feeling  have  you 


THE  FASHION  OF  THE  WORLD.  219 


of  these  truths  ?  Many  of  you,  I  doubt  not,  saw  the 
•affecting  scene  that  passed  through  this  city  the  other 
(lay.  What  instruction  have  you  gained  from  it  ?  If 
you  say,  "  I  know  not  any.  I  merely  went  to  gratify 
my  curiosity.  It  was  enough  for  me,  that  it  amused 
me  for  the  time" — then  I  will  tell  you  a  more  affecting 
scene  than  that  which  passed  before  your  eyes :  the  lev- 
ity and  vacuity  with  which  many  thousands  look  upon 
such  a  sight,  is  a  more  affecting  scene  to  the  moral 
eye  ! — their  minds  are  like  a  feather  in  the  wind — no 
sentiment !  no  meaning !  no  wise  reflection  !  no'  seri- 
ous consideration !  not  so  much  as  a  thought,  "  The 
pageant  of  this  world  is  also  passing  by,  and  will  soon 
l)e  over !" 

A  scene,  however,  approaches,  which  will  oblige 
men  to  think  : — A  scene  to  which  all  other  solemnities 
are  as  the  dust  in  a  balance.  '  In  a  moment,  in  the 
twinkling  of  an  eye,  at  the  last  trump  :  for  the  trum- 
pet shall  sound,  and  the  dead  shall  be  raised  incorrupt- 
ible, and  we  shall  be  changed !'  And  then,  brethren, 
you  will  not  need  the  preacher,  to  demonstrate  to  you 
how  the  pageant  of  this  world  passeth  by :  you  will 
not  need  the  preacher,  to  show  you  how  little  world- 
lings know  of  that  world  of  which  they  boast  to  have 
so  thorough  a  knowledge  :  neither  will  you  then  need 
to  be  taught,  how  gracious  it  was  in  God,  to  meet  your 
wants  as  a  guilty  dying  creature  ;  nor  how  infatuated 
and  criminal  the  worldling  is,  who  sleeps  on,  under 
these  warnings,  in  his  carnal  state  :  nor  will  you  want 
any  conviction,  how  merciful  it  is  in  God,  to  drive 
men,  when  they  will  not  be  drawn  ;  and  to  bring 
them  to  their  senses  even  by  the  most  painful  methods ; 
as  the  Prodigal,  when  he  could  not  estimate  the  bless- 
ings of  his  father's  house  and  protection,  must  be  senf 
to  sit  with  the  swine,  and  to  famish,  before  he  came  to 
himself.  Then  shall  it  clearly  appear,  what  part  was 
allotted  to  us  to  perform ;  and  that  it  was  the  right 


220 


SERMON  XXII. 


part,  provided  we  performed  it  aright.  We  shall  see, 
indeed,  that  the  world  passeth  away ;  but  we  shall  sec 
some  standing  at  the  right-hand,  who  knew,  while  il 
passed,  how  to  '  work  out  their  own  salvation  with  fear 
and  trembling.' 

That  you  may  have  that  wisdom,  by  the  grace  of  the 
Holy  Spirit,  afforded  to  you,  may  God,  of  his  infinitr 
mercy  grant,  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord  ! 


SERMON  XXIII. 


tlHllISTIAN  CONSOLATIONS  ABOUNDING  IN 
SUFFERING. 

2  Cor.  i,  5. 

\s  the  sufFerings  of  Chi-ist  abound  in  us,  so  our  consolation  also 
aboundeth  by  Clirist. 

•'  Hope  travels  on,"  says  the  poet :  "  Hope  travels  on. 
nor  leaves  us  till  we  die  :"  and  this  is  a  distinguishing 
feature  of  Christianity. 

A  vast  variety  of  things  raise  hope  in  a  man :  but 
they  do  but  beguile  him.  They  excite  fond  expecta- 
tions :  they  promise  great  things :  but  they  delude 
him  :  they  leave  him  in  extremity  ;  and,  what  is  worse, 
they  leave  him  when  it  is  too  late  to  take  hold  of  a 
better  object.  In  extremity,  they  scorn  his  misery, 
and  say,  "  We  can  do  nothing." 

But  Hope  travels  on  with  the  Christian ;  and  when 
every  thing  else  seems  to  say,  "  We  can  do  no  more 
for  you,"  he  lifts  up  his  head  with  joy,  knowing  that 
his  redemption  draweth  nigh. 

Christianity,  therefore,  is  the  true  remedy  for  trou- 
ble.   There  is  no  other  remedy. 

St.  Paul  bears  his  testimony  to  this,  in  the  passage 
which  we  have  read.  It  is  thus  introduced  :  '  Paul, 
an  apostle  of  Jesus  Christ,  by  the  will  of  God,  and 
Timothy  our  brother,  unto  the  church  of  God  which 
is  at  Corinth,  with  all  the  saints  which  are  in  all 
Achaia :  Grace  be  to  you,  and  peace  from  God  our 
Father,  and  from  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Blessed  be 
God,  even  the  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the 

voi>.  If.  20 


222 


SERMON  XXIII. 


Father  of  Mercies,  and  the  God  of  all  Comfort,  who 
comforteth  us  in  all  our  tribulation,  that  we  may  be 
able  to  comfort  them  which  are  in  any  trouble,  by  the 
comfort  wherewith  we  ourselves  are  comforted  of 
God.'  We  can  tell  them  our  experience :  we  can 
prove  to  them  that  God,  '  the  Father  of  Mercies,'  is 
'  the  God  of  all  Comfort.'  And,  he  adds,  if  we  are 
afflicted,  it  is,  among  other  reasons,  that  we  may  be 
able,  as  exercised  persons,  to  show  what  God  can  do 
in  affliction ;  '  for,  as  the  sufferings  of  Christ  abound 
in  us,  so  our  consolation  also  aboundeth  by  Christ.' 

The  suiferings  of  Christ  were,  in  some  respects, 
peculiar.  He  was  a  public  person :  he  undertook 
what  none  but  himself  could  undertake :  therefore 
there  was  a  peculiarity  in  his  sufferings.  But  the 
Apostle  is  here  speaking  of  sufferings  on  account 
of  Christ,  which  Christians  pass  through  in  con- 
formity to  him ;  that,  as  he  was,  they  should  be  in  the 
world. 

I  shall,  therefore,  show, 

1.  What  are  the  sufferings  of  christ,  ok 
which  christians,  in  every  age,  are  partakers. 

2.  how  consolations  are  made   to  abound 

BY   CHRIST    IN    THOSE    VERY   SUFFERINGS.      '  As  thc 

sufferings  of  Christ  abound  in  us,  so  our  consolation 
also  aboundeth  by  Christ.' 

I.  We  are  to  consider  WHAT  ARE  THE  SUF- 
FERINGS OF  CHRIST,  OF  WHICH  CHRIS- 
TIANS, IN  EVERY  AGE,  ARE  PARTAKERS. 

1.  A  Christian  will  partake  of  the  sufferings  oi 

Christ  AS   A   WITNESS   FOR   THE  TRUTH. 

If,  like  Christ,  he  stands  a  witness  for  truth,  he  must 
needs  have  to  oppose  a  host  of  falsehoods :  and  this 
host  of  falsehoods  will  put  out  all  their  force  against 
him.  Our  Lord,  '  thc  faithful  witness,  witnessed  a 
good  confession  before  Pontius  Pilate  ;  and,  while  he 
stood  at  the  judgment-seat,  he  would  not  conceal  thc 
Irnth.    Though  he  knew  his  confession  would  lead  t<^' 


CONSOLATIONS  IN  SUFFERING. 


223 


his  death,  yet  he  told  the  true  state  of  things,  both  with 
respect  to  himself  and  them  before  whom  he  wit- 
nessed his  confession. 

The  Christian  has  before  him  a  Book  of  Realities. 
•  Here,"  says  he,  I  read  God's  own  account  of  his 
dealings  with  men.  Here  I  read  his  declaration  of 
what  Satan  is  doing,  and  what  I  am  doing,  and  whither 
I  am  going.  Here  is  his  account  of  the  end  of  the 
world,  and  of  the  only  method  whereby  a  sinner  can 
escape  when  standing  before  the  judgment-seat  of 
Christ.  This  will  do  me  most  important  service ! 
This  is  a  Book  of  Realities,  which  lies  before  me :  I 
am  bound,  therefore,  to  be  a  witness  for  truth.  I 
know  the  truth.    I  have  felt  its  power." 

This  man  hears  continually  of  falsehood  riding  tri- 
umphant, and  reads  false  sentiments  in  almost  every 
publication  which  he  takes  up,  according  to  '  the  wis- 
dom of  this  world  that  cometh  to  nought.'  But  he 
knows  the  falsehood  of  these  things :  he  does  not 
think  them  false,  but  he  knows  them  to  be  so,  because 
he  has  a  standard  whereby  to  measure  every  senti- 
ment. Bringing  these  sentiments  to  his  standard,  and 
finding  them  false,  "My  duty,"  he  says,  "is  brought 
into  a  narrow  compass.  It  is  plain  as  noon-day. 
'  He,  that  confesseth  me  before  men,  him  will  I  confess 
before  my  Father:  and  him,  that  denieth  me  before 
men,  him  will  I  deny  before  my  Father  and  his  holy 
angels.'  I  must  be  a  witness,  therefore,  for  the  truth. 
I  dare  not  deny  it.    I  dare  not  conceal  it." 

Can  we  conceive  of  a  man  going  forth  in  this  way, 
and  not  sutTering  for  Christ  ?  He  is  a  bold  witness  for 
truth,  and  the  sufferings  of  Christ  will  abound  in  him. 

2.  A  Christian  will  partake  of  the  sufferings  ol 
Christ  and  conformity  to  his  death,  in  that  he  will  be 

SCORNED   AND  MISREPRESENTED  liV   THE  WORLD;  for 

he  brings  to  light  and  exposes  the  falsehood,  and  ini- 
(juity,  and  false  sentiments  of  the  world. 

\  Christian  has  been  justly  compared  to  a  man 


224 


SERMON  XXni. 


wiih  perfect  sight  passing  through  a  nation  of  bUnd 
men.  A  man  with  perfect  sight  passing  through  such 
a  nation,  could  speak  of  very  few  things  of  which  they 
could  form  any  conception.  "  Did  you  ever  hear,'" 
would  one  say  to  another,  "  did  you  ever  hear  of  a 
rainbow  ? — or  of  colours .' — or  of  light  ? — or  of  stars  :* 
The  man  is  beside  himself." 

It  is  thus  with  the  Christian,  when  speaking  to  the 
world  of  the  things  of  God.  The  natural  man  can- 
not understand  them,  and  treats  him  as  one  insane. 
Nay,  it  is  said  of  Christ  himself,  that  his  kindred  ran 
out  to  lay  hold  of  him,  thinking  him  beside  himself. 
And  of  his  Apostles  it  is  said,  that  they  were  '  specta- 
cles to  angels  and  to  men.'  '  If,'  says  our  Lord,  'ye 
were  of  the  world,  the  world  would  love  its  own : 
but,  because  ye  are  not  of  the  world,  but  I  have  chosen 
you  out  of  the  world,  therefore  the  world  hateth  you.' 

It  may  be  objected,  that  we  are  not  to  apply  an  ex- 
pression, particularly  addressed  to  disciples,  to  man- 
kind at  lai^e.  Let  such  objectors  recollect,  that  one 
of  these  Apostles  says,  '  All,  that  will  live  godly  in 
Christ  Jesus,  shall  sutTer  persecution.' 

This  partaking  of  the  sufferings  of  Christ  may  be 
occasioned  many  thousand  ways  by  mankind.  If  men 
have  net  their  fire  and  faggots  to  bring  forth,  to  de- 
monstrate the  malignity  of  their  hearts :  yet,  they 
have,  as  the  Apostle  expresses  it.  their  cruel  mockings. 
bitter  reproaches,  misrepresentations,  and  uncharitable 
conjectures.  Did  they  not  say  of  Christ  himself,  that 
he  was  a  mover  of  sedition  ?  These  are  but  the  vari- 
ous expressions  of  the  malignity  and  enmity  of  the 
carnal  heart  against  Christ  and  his  servants. 

3.  Christ  suffered,  being  tempted.  He  had  to 
combat,  not  only  against  the  world,  but  against  sin. 

And,  to  the  end  of  the  world,  his  servants  must  be 
cautioned  against  their  grand  enemy.  They  must 
maintain  a  conflict  to  their  latest  breath.  The  Chris- 
(ian  draws  the  sword,  and  throws  away  the  scabbard. 


CONSOLATIONS  IN  SUFFERING. 


225 


He  has  no  expectation  that  it  will  ever  be  sheathed 
again  in  this  world ;  for  Satan,  where  he  cannot  de- 
stroy, will  disturb. 

Beside  open  assaults,  the  Christian  will  find  this 
enemy  spreading  snares  suited  to  his  disposition  and 
constitution.  The  'accuser  of  the  brethen'  is  a  ve- 
teran in  mischief:  he  will  provide  some  trial  in  our 
circumstances,  and  throw  some  stumbling-block  in 
our  way. 

4.  Being  in  the  School  of  Christ,  Christ's  sulfe rings 
are  made  to  abound  in  a  Christian,  when  God  exer- 
cises him  by  stripping  him  of  sensible  comfort 
AND  STRENGTH  ;  and  calling  him  to  walk  by  faith  and 
patience,  without  any  thing  external  to  lean  upon — 
when  he  dries  up  creature-springs. 

I  know  what  it  is,  in  myself  and  others,  for  a  man  to 
be  brought  into  such  a  situation,  that  his  props,  if  I 
may  so  express  it,  are  cut  away — when  his  very  friends 
liecome  traitors  to  him,  as  Judas  became  to  his  mas- 
icr — when  those,  on  whom  he  places  most  dependancc, 
Ijccome  strangers.  He  is  then  taught  to  walk  in  dark- 
ness, and  yet  to  walk  on  :  he  is  led  through  a  wilder- 
ness, in  which  there  is  no  way  :  he  knows  what  it  is 
to  have  his  path  walled  up  :  and  he  is  ready  to  say,  '  I 
shall  one  day  perish.' 

Our  Blessed  Master  himself  poured  out  strong  cries 
and  tears.  It  must  have  been  no  small  trial  to  make 
him  pour  out  strong  cries  and  tears,  who  was  from  his 
birth  '  a  man  of  sorrows,  and  acquainted  with  grief.' 

Hear  too,  how  the  Apostle  speaks,  in  the  ninth 
verse :  '  We  had  the  sentence  of  death  in  ourselves, 
that  we  should  not  trust  in  ourselves,  but  in  God 
which  raiseth  the  dead.'  And  he  speaks  of  being 
•  pressed  out  of  measure' — almost  driven  from  hope  : 
•insomuch  that  he  despaired  even  of  life!'  And  this 
is  the  language  of  Christ's  school. 

Brethren,  whatever  God  has  promised  to  his  peo- 
ple, he  has  not  promised  to  exempt  them  from  afflic- 

voi,.  n,  20* 


226 


SERMON  XXHI. 


tion  in  this  world.  As  one  well  remarks,  it  is  the  onlv 
blessing  which  God  gives  to  his  people  without  theii' 
asking  for  it :  but,  because  he  will  bless  by  it,  he  send> 
it  without  their  asking. 

II.  I  am  to  show  HOW  CONSOLATIONS  BY 
CHRIST  ARE  MADE  TO  ABOUND,  EVEN  IN 
TRIBULATION. 

1.  A  Christian's  consolations  are  made  to  abound 
under  his  afflictions,  as  he  is  instructed  in  respect 

TO   THE   END   OF   HIS  SUFFERINGS. 

A  man  may  bear  much,  when  he  can  see  the  end. 
The  Psalmist  tells  us,  in  the  Lxxiiid  Psalm,  that  he 
was  carried  away  by  the  prosperity  of  the  wicked. 
My  feet,  he  says,  were  almost  gone  :  my  steps  had  well- 
nigh  slipped.  Bat  it  pleased  God  to  make  his  conso- 
lations abound,  by  showing  him  the  end.  When  I 
thought  to  know  this,  he  says — when  I  thought  to  know 
this  as  a  Philosopher,  and  to  reconcile  it  in  my  own 
wisdom — it  was  too  hard  for  me  :  I  could  not  under- 
stand it,  ?<?if// into  the  sanctuary  of  God:  thci: 
understood  I  the  end.  But,  he  adds,  /  am  continually 
with  thee,  though  chastened  and  tried  :  thou  hast  hold- 
en  me  by  my  right  hand,  as  the  parent  does  his^hild  : 
and  thou  shalt  guide  me  with  thy  counsel,  and  afterward 
receive  me  to  glory — As  forme,  it  is  a  good  thing  for 
me  to  draw  near  to  God. 

What  may  not  be  endured,  when  a  man  has  evidence 
of  the  power  and  strength  on  which  he  leans  ?  St. 
Paul  cried  earnestly  under  his  affliction — the  thorn 
that  pierced  him — the  messenger  of  Satan.  But  our 
Lord  said,  "  My  grace  is  sufficient  for  thee  :  1  will  care 
for  thee  :  commit  the  matter  to  me  :  you  want  support, 
and  you  shall  receive  it."  '  Most  gladly,  therefore," 
says  the  Apostle,  'will  I  rather  glory  in  my  infirmities, 
that  the  power  of  Christ  may  rest  upon  me.'  I  find, 
that,  '  as  my  tribulations  abound,  my  consolations 
abound  also.' 

2.  A  Christian's  consolations  are  made  to  abound 


CONSOLATIONS  IN  SUFFERING. 


227 


by  Christ,  as,  in  treading  this  dreary  and  thorny  path. 

HE     HAS     EVIDENCE     THAT    THIS     IS    THE     WAY  TO 

GLORY — not  only  that  this  is  the  way  which  leads  to  the 
end,  but  that  he  is  in  the  way. 

In  the  fourth  chapter  of  this  epistle,  the  Apostle 
says,  'For  which  cause  we  faint  not:  but  though  oui 
outward  man  perish,  yet  the  inward  man  is  renewed 
day  by  day.'  Though  the  outward  man  will  soon 
sink  and  perish,  yet  God  renews  the  inward  man  : 
■  for  our  light  affliction  which  is  but  for  a  moment, 
worketh  for  us  a  far  more  exceeding  and  eternal 
weight  of  glory  :' — The  consolation  is  infinitely  great- 
er than  the  momentary  affliction — 'While  we  look 
not  at  the  things  which  are  seen,  but  at  the  things 
which  are  not  seen:  for  the  things  which  are  seen 
are  temporal,  but  the  things  which  are  not  seen  are 
eternal.' 

'  Go  thy  way  forth  by  the  footsteps  of  the  flock, 
and  feed  thy  kids  beside  the  shepherds'  tents,'  was 
the  answer  given  to  that  inquiry,  '  Tell  me,  O  thou 
whom  my  soul  loveth,  where  thou  makest  thy  flocks 
to  rest  at  noon. — Go  thy  way  forth  : — set  up  way- 
marks  :' — notice  what  you  meet  with  :  ask  if  that  is 
not  the  way  in  which  all  walked  who  are  gone  to  hea- 
ven :  ask  for  the  way  of  them,  that  '  came  out  ol 
great  tribulation,  and  washed  their  robes  in  the  blood 
of  the  lamb.' 

And  are  you  in  this  way  ?  Then  you  may  say,  every 
step  of  it,  '  Why  art  thou  cast  down,  O  my  soul  ?'  The 
sufferings  of  Christ  will  abound,  more  or  less,  all  the 
■way  thou  goest ;  but  the  consolation  will  abound  also. 

3.  A  Christian's  consolations  are  made  to  abound 
in  his  tribulations,  as  he  has  an  assurance  of  pe- 
culiar SUPPORT   in  trying  SEASONS. 

Of  peculiar  support,  I  say :  for  God  will  give^ 
strength  for  the  day  and  faith  for  the  trial.    Do  you 
think  of  him  as  a  hard  master  ? — then  you  know  him 
not.    W^ill  any  of  you  send  your  servant  on  an  ardu- 


228 


SERMON  XXllI. 


OU8  errand,  and  not  consider  his  difficulties  ?  Will  you 
not  grant  support  and  countenance  to  your  servant  in 
his  undertaking,  in  proportion  to  its  difficulties  ?  Oh. 
how  do  we  dishonour  God,  in  thinking  he  is  more  re- 
gardless of  us,  than  we  are  of  one  another !  No  ! 
says  our  Lord,  "/am  the  vine:  ye  are  the  branches: 
ye  shall  derive  life  and  vigour  from  me  ;  and  though 
the  branch  may  be  placed  under  a  burning  sun, 
which  may  seem  to  dry  up  all  its  nourishment,  yet  / 
am  the  vine :  it  cannot  touch  the  vine  :  fear  not  :  1 
know  your  troubles." 

Therefore  St.  Paul  says,  '  Though  no  man  stood  by 
me,  yet  the  Lord  was  with  me  ;  and,  as  my  afflictions- 
abounded,  my  consolations  also  abounded.' 

And  this  is  the  powerful  argument  of  the  text.  "  Wc 
are  obliged,"  as  if  the  Apostle  had  said,  "  to  stand  by 
this  fact :  that  whenever  the  sutTerings  of  Christ 
abound,  the  consolations  superabound."  Herein  God 
proves  his  sufficiency,  and  Christ  his  faithfulness. 
He  saw  the  martyr  Stephen  dragged  before  an  assem- 
bly of  enraged  men,  who  gnashed  upon  him  with  their 
teeth :  and  treated  his  arguments,  and  the  truths 
which  he  spake,  as  if  they  were  so  many  falsehoods 
and  fables.  He  saw  him  dragged  out  to  be  dashed  to 
pieces  by  their  stones.  But,  BeAo/c?,"  says  Stephen, 
looking  up,  I  sec  the  heavens  opened:  I  see  Jesus, 
for  whom  I  am  sutfering  :  that  suffices !  He  is  now 
looking  at  me,  and  saying,  Well  done,  good  and  faith- 
ful servant :  thou  shalt  have  my  light  and  consola- 
tion." Looking  up,  therefore,  to  his  best  and  only 
friend.  Lord  Jesus,  said  he,  receive  my  spirit :  lay  not 
this  sin  to  their  charge,  for  they  know  not  what  they  do  ' 
How  eminently  did  consolation  here  abound  beyond 
affliction  ! 

I  shall  speak  a  word  to  objectors. 

Such  may  be  ready  to  say,  "  If  Christianity  has 
such  trials,  I  am  ready  to  forego  all  and  draw  back.  I 
thought  all  would  be  quietness  and  ease." 


CONSOLATIONS  IN  SUFFERING. 


229 


My  dear  hearers,  it  is  to  more  than  quietness  and 
ease  to  which  we  invite  you.  We  offer  you  consola- 
tion— comfort  and  joy  through  eternity.  If  you 
shrink  back,  because  Christianity  will  cost  you  some- 
thing, it  is  most  evident  to  every  Christian  that  you 
have  never  counted  the  cost ;  nor  what  it  will  cost — 
J^ot  to  be  a  Christian. 

You  hear,  perhaps,  a  rude  and  ignorant  beggar, 
reasoning  on  the  education  of  a  king's  son.  Says  the 
beggar,  in  his  ignorance,  I  choose  to  have  my  own 
will  and  my  own  way.  I  have  no  notion  of  the  con- 
finement of  a  school.  I  would  rather  lie  upon  my 
dunghill."  What  would  you  say  ?  You  would  say, 
"  Wretched  creature !  he  seems  to  have  no  sense  oi" 
the  miserable  consequences  of  the  ignorance  and  bru- 
tality of  his  present  situation,  and  therefore  scorns 
that  on  which  the  king  sets  so  much  value,  and 
would  pay  for  it  at  a  high  rate  to  procure  it  for  his 
son." 

It  is  thus  that  beggarly  minds  speak  of  the  troubles 
of  the  Christian.  But,  because  he  is  a  king's  son, 
he  shall  have  an  education  suited  to  his  character  and 
prospects. 


SERMON  XXIV. 


OODLY  AND  WORLDLY  SORROW. 
2  Cor.  vn,  10. 

For  Godly  Sorrow  worketh  Repentance  unto  Salvation,  not  to  In 
repented  of:  but  the  sorrow  of  the  world  worketli  death. 

The  Wise  Man  tells  us,  that  it '  is  better  to  go  to  the 
house  of  mourning  than  to  the  house  of  feasting.* 
The  house  of  mirth  is  generally  the  house  of  extrava- 
gance, the  house  of  absurdity  and  vanity :  but  the 
house  of  mourning  has  better  lessons,  better  company, 
better  consolation,  and  a  better  end :  '  for  godly  sor- 
row worketh  repentance  unto  salvation,'  and  it  is  a 
thing  '  not  to  be  repented  of;'  but,  not  the  mirth  only, 
but  the  sorrow  of  the  world,  worketh  death. 

The  occasion  of  these  words  you  will  find  in  the 
fifth  chapter  of  the  First  Epistle.  Lately  as  Chris- 
tianity had  been  introduced  into  the  world,  a  gross 
scandal  had  crept  into  it :  the  Corinthians,  instead  ol 
being  humbled  by  it,  Avere  puffed  up  and  careless.  St. 
Paul  wrote  to  them,  and  then  they  ran  into  another 
extreme.  "  '  Though  I  made  you  sorry  with  a  letter,' 
says  the  Apostle,  '  I  repent  not,  though  I  did  repent.' 
I  rejoice  not  that  this  put  you  to  pain :  '  I  rejoice  not 
that  ye  were  made  sorry,  but  that  you  sorrowed  to 
repentance :  for  godly  sorrow  worketh  repentance 
unto  salvation,  not  to  be  repented  of;  but  the  sorrow 
of  the  world  worketh  death  :'  whatever  pain,  there- 
fore, you  have  received  from  my  letter,  it  has  done 
j'ou  good :  it  has  operated  as  a  medicine :  I  do  not 
rejoice  at  the  pain  ;  but  I  rejoice  at  its  effects." 


GODLY  AND  WORLDLY  SORROW.  231 


I  shall, 

1.  Explain  these  words :  and, 

2.  Apply  them. 

I.  1  shall  EXPLAIN  these  words. 

1.  Let  us  consider  what  is  to  be  understood  h\ 

ODLY  SORROW. 

A  Christian  has  his  peculiar  sorrows  and  his  pecu- 
liar joys  :  his  '  heart  knoweth  its  own  bitterness,  and  a 
stranger  intermeddleth  not  with  his  joy.'  If  a  tear 
fall  from  his  e}  e,  it  falls  with  a  consideration  in  his 
mine,  like  that  of  Job  or  Hezekiah,  under  correction. 
Others  may  thinl<  of  nothing  but  chance,  the  ill-nature 
of  man,  the  vexatious  cross,  and  the  circumstances 
that  attended  it :  but  this  man's  sorrow  will  be  accom- 
panied by  a  consideration,  that  God  is  to  be  acknow- 
ledged in  his  trouble. 

"  Not  from  the  dust  my  joys  or  sorrows  spring." 
He  will  mourn  for  his  own  sin  :  he  will  mourn  for  the 
scandals  of  the  church.  Perhaps  it  is  a  persona! 
affair  which  afflicts  him ;  or,  possibly,  it  is  a  famih 
concern  :  but,  still,  he  will  see  the  hand  of  God  in  the 
affliction  of  persons,  and  in  the  distress  of  families : 
and  he  views  it  with  a  believing  eye,  and  with  a  child- 
like spirit,  and  will  be  ready  to  say  with  Job,  '  Show 
me  wherefore  thou  contendest  with  me.' 

When,  therefore,  God  discovers  to  him  that  there 
is  some  evil,  something  that  calls  for  the  hand  of  the 
surgeon,  this  discovery  will  work  repentance:  'for 
godly  sorrow  worketh  repentance  unto  salvation,  not 
to  be  repented  of.' 

And  what  will  be  the  symptoms  of  this  repentance  ? 
■  Behold !'  says  the  Apostle :  mark  the  symptoms  ! 
No  more  careless  levity !  '  Behold — What  careful- 
ness it  wrought  in  you  ;  yea,  what  clearing  of  your- 
selves; yea,  what  indignation;  yea,  what  fear;  yea, 
what  vehement  desire ;  yea,  what  zeal ;  yea,  what 
revenge !'  These  were  the  symptoms  of  a  godly  sor- 
row working  repentance. 


232 


SERMON  XXIV. 


If  we  find  Manasseh  weeping,  when  '  taken  among 
the  thorns,  and  cast  into  the  prison-house,'  it  will 
demonstate  that  the  tendency  of  his  affliction  is 
salutary  and  holy :  there  is  a  change  of  his  mind 
and  heart.  It  is  the  case  of  the  prodigal,  when 
brought  to  his  right  mind.  There  will  be  a  renewal 
of  grace.  The  man  will  be  led  to  say,  " '  Before  1 
was  afflicted  I  went  astray,  but  now  have  I  learnt  thy 
word — I  was  as  a  bullock  unaccustomed  to  the  yoke' — 
but,  ■  turn  thou  me,  and  I  shall  be  turned  :  for  thou 
art  the  Lord  my  God.'  I  am  ashamed,  '  smiting  on 
my  thigh.'  "  Here  is  a  fresh  stirring  up  of  grace. 
Here  is  a  grieved  spirit.  '  Create  in  me,'  says  Da- 
vid. '  a  clean  heart,  O  God,  and  renew  a  right  spirit 
within  me.' 

Brethren  !  '  godly  sorrow,'  as  you  see,  '  worketh 
repentance.'  and  that  '  unto  salvation  :'  it  is  the  ope- 
ration of  a  spiritual  medicine ;  for,  frequently,  till 
godly  sorrow  worketh  in  this  manner,  a  man  has  no 
suspicion  of  his  state. 

Gurnal.  in  his  "  Christian  Armour,"  observes  that 
the  chastisements  of  God  put  us  on  examination.  A 
man,  who  finds  the  top  of  his  house  let  in  water,  goes 
up  to  repair  the  breach ;  and  discovers  that  the  whole 
roof,  perhaps,  is  in  a  state  of  decay.  Some  particular 
sin  may,  in  like  manner,  give  us  pain :  when  we  exa- 
mine, we  find  that  this  is  connected  with  an  alarming 
spiritual  decay ;  and,  if  we  take  not  warning,  the  soul 
will  be  inevitably  ruined.  Thus  'godly  sorrow  work- 
eth repentance  unto '  present  '  salvation  ;'  and,  of 
course,  worketh  salvation  everlasting :  so  that  Peter's 
weeping,  the  jailor's  distress,  the  Corinthian's  careful- 
ness and  zeal  and  revenge,  were  working  to  the  salva- 
vation  which  God  intended,  and  were  sjTnptoms  of 
spiritual  health. 

AVe  notice  a  man  going  back,  perhaps,  from  Christ : 
and,  from  charitable  motives,  we  hint — "  You  are  in 
an  evil  way.    This  thing  has  a  bad  tendency  on  your 


GODLY  AND  WORLDLY  SORROW.  233 


own  soul :  it  will  injure  your  family  :  it  will  bring  a 
scandal  on  the  Church."  But  the  man  resorts  to  ex- 
tenuation :  he  offers  palliatives  :  he  may,  perhaps,  re- 
sent our  faithfulness,  and  consider  himself  insulted. 
It  is  the  direct  reverse,  where  godly  sorrow  appears : 
when  it  is  said  to  a  penitent,  '  Thou  art  the  man,'  he 
will  rather  say,  with  David, '  I  have  sinned  !'  and,  Avith 
the  Publican,  '  God  be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner !' 

The  repentance  spoken  of  in  the  case  of  Judas  was 
but  remorse — the  sorrow  of  this  world,  that  worketh 
death  ;  contrary,  therefore,  to  the  repentance  that 
worketh  salvatoin.  The  repentance  of  which  the 
text  speaks,  is  a  spiritual  sensibility — a  living  man 
feeling,  and  tending  to  recovery.  '  I  have  gone  astray,' 
says  the  Psalmist,  '  like  a  lost  sheep :  seek  thy  servant !' 

My  dear  hearers,  there  is  scarcely  any  worldly  joy. 
but  leaves  a  sting  behind  it :  or,  as  one  excellently  ex- 
presses it,  ■'  What  is  sorrow,  but  the  ghost  of  joy  ?" 
But  godly  sorrow  is  an  atlectiotiate  return  to  God — a 
renewed  act  of  communion  with  him  ;  and  must  draw 
forth  grateful  thanks  to  Christ,  the  giver  of  this  bless- 
ing ;  for  '  him  hath  God  exalted  to  give  repentance  and 
remission  of  sins.' 

2.  But,  the  Apostle  speaks  also  of  the  sorrow  or 
THE  WORLD,  as  opposed  to  this  godly  sorrow. 

The  sorrow  of  (he  world ! — There  is  far  more  of 
this  than  appears.  Some  of  us,  who  have  public  cha- 
Kacters,  as  ministers  or  physicians,  see  a  vast  deal  more 
of  this  than  other  men.  Sometimes,  when  every  thing 
ieems  easy  and  happy  around  a  man,  he  will  feel  his 
heart  almost  broke  :  and  will  declare  himself  in  such 
a  state  that  none  can  suspect.  Yet  such  an  infatua- 
tion prevails,  that  a  man  will  go  on  for  years  a  careless, 
silly,  unthinking  creature — he  weighs  nothing — '  to- 
morrow shall  be  as  this  day,  and  much  more  abundant' 
— he  wonders  to  find  that  any  body  should  be  in  trou- 
f»le-^Ae  has  none ! — just  as  you  see  that  men  intoxica- 

ror-.,  II..  21 


234 


SERMON  XXIV. 


ted  have  no  notion  of  the  troubles  of  the  world.  But. 
when  you  look  into  life,  you  see  it  full  of  trouble. 

Every  one  must  have  seen  what  distress  an  un- 
godly man  has  frequently  found,  in  the  view  of  loss, 
disappointment,  or  pain.  '  Raging,  he  teareth  himselt 
in  his  anger  :'  he  will  hear  of  nothing  to  pacify  him  : 
he  will  listen  to  no  reason  :  he  throws  out  implacable 
speeches  against  persons,  who  seem  to  have  had  no 
hand  in  his  troubles.  Thus  doth  the  sorrow  of  the 
world  work  death. 

Ahithophel  was  a  wise  man.  He  spake — and  was 
reckoned  as  an  oracle.  But  he  is  disappointed  and 
chagrined :  he  cannot  carry  his  point.  What  is  his 
refuge  ? — '  And  when  Ahithophel  saw  that  his  counsel 
was  not  followed,  he  saddled  his  ass,  and  arose,  and 
gat  him  home  to  his  house,  to  his  city,  and  put  his 
household  in  order,  and — hanged  himself!' 

Ahab  was  a  king ;  and  had  large  domains,  many 
subjects,  great  riches.  "  I  must  have  a  garden  of 
herbs."  And  he  'spake  unto  Naboth,  saying,  Give 
me  thy  vineyard,  that  I  may  have  it  for  a  garden  of 
herbs.  And  when  Naboth  said  to  Ahab,  the  Lord  for- 
bid it  me  that  I  should  give  the  inheritance  of  my  fa- 
thers unto  thee,'  what  is  his  resource  ? — '  Ahab  came  \ 
to  his  house,  heavy  and  displeased — and  laid  him  down 
upon  his  bed,  and  turned  away  his  face,  and  would  eat 
no  bread !'  He  cannot  have  the  little  portion !  He 
must  be  sick,  and  throw  himself  on  his  bed,  and  have 
no  comfort  from  any  of  his  possessions !  This  is  '  the 
sorrow  of  the  world.' 

Haman  enjoys  whatever  he  can  desire :  for  every 
thing  which  the  king  possesses  is  at  his  command. 
But  Mordecai  will  not  bow  to  him,  as  he  enters  the 
gate ;  his  heart  is  torn  asunder,  because  this  poor  Jew 
will  not  yield  him  obeisance.  '  The  sorrow  of  the 
world  worketh  death !'  and  nothing  better :  no  amend- 
ment :  no  improvement ;  no  wisdom  ! 


GODLY  AND  WORLDLY  SORROW.  235 


"  '  Get  me,' "  says  Saul,  "  '  a  cunning  woman — a 
woman  of  a  familiar  spirit.'  I  despair  with  respect 
to  help  from  God,  and  now  I  will  go  to  the  Infernal 
Spirit  for  advice."  And  when  he  had  taken  this  step, 
(he  next  was  to  call  on  his  armour-hearer,  '  Draw  thy 
sword,  and  thrust  me  through  !' 

"  Here,"  says  Judas,  "  take  this  silver  which  I  have 
iiad  of  you !  I  have  betrayed  the  innocent  blood !'" 
'  What  is  that  to  us  ?' — The  very  spirit  of  the  world ! 

•  See  thou  to  that !'  "  Take  the  money  !"  says  he  : 
••  take  it !  take  it !  I  have  betrayed  the  innocent 
blood  !"  And  what  was  his  one  resource  ? — '  He  cast 
down  the  pieces  of  silver  in  the  temple,  and  depart- 
ed, and  went,  atid  hanged  himself!' 

Brethren !  I  am  speaking  of  what  is  passing  ever) 
day  of  our  lives.  You  meet  with  these  things  in  al- 
most every  newspaper  you  take  up.  What  is  the 
meaning  of  such  an  one  having  broke  his  heart  ? — 

•  The  sorrow  of  the  world  hath  worked  death  !'  Such 
an  one  is  pining  himself  into  a  consumption!  W'hy? 

•  The  sorrow  of  the  world  is  working  death !'  A  rich 
man  has  shot  himself! — For  what  reason  ? — '  The  sor- 
row of  the  world  worketh  death  !' 

These  accounts  are  continually  before  our  eyes : 
but,  let  us  remember,  that  we  do  not  meet  with  a 
thousandth  part  of  the  facts,  which  prove  that  the 
sorrow  of  this  world  worketh  death. 

And  what  tends  to  a  present  death — the  impenitent 
state  of  such  persons — we  find,  with  the  Bible  in  our 
hands,  tends  also  to  eternal  death !  So  true  it  is. 
then,  that,  while  'godly  sorrow  worketh  repentance 
unto  salvation,  not  to  be  repented  of,  the  sorrow  oi 
the  world  worketh  death.' 

II.  I  will  make  a  few  REFLECTIONS  from  what 
has  been  said. 

1.  We  may  hence  learn  the  malignant  nature 

OF  SIN. 

In  prosperity  sin  leads  the  sinner  to  madness,  to 


236 


SERMON  XXIV. 


extravagance,  to  ignorance  of  himself — to  ruin! 
Fie  is  a  most  pitiable  creature  !  In  prosperity  he  is 
delirious. 

He  falls  into  trouble :  then,  surely,  there  is  some- 
thing like  amendment,  because  recollection  must  be 
produced.  No  !  no  such  thing !  '  The  sorrow  of  the 
world  worketh  death.'  Friends  may  hope  ;  but,  alas ! 
sin  has  even  poisoned  his  sorrows !  Satan  has  a  de- 
vice with  Judas  in  his  despair:  as  well  as  when  en- 
trusted with  the  bag,  to  teach  him  to  steal  from  it. 
Satan  will  teach  a  man  to  presume,  to  grasp,  to  rua 
on  carelessly :  then  he  will  teach  him  to  despair :  and 
will  bring  him  a  knife,  a  pistol,  a  halter ;  and  will  tell 
him — "  That  is  the  only  cure !"  So  that  sorrow,  as 
well  as  joy.  is  poisoned  by  sin. 

Every  thing  is  wrong,  when  the  heart  is  wrong. 
■  The  strong  man  armed  seeks  to  keep  his  goods  in 
peace  and,  if  any  thing  tries  to  disturb  him,  he  will 
forge  fetters  of  another  kind. 

Examine  yourselves.  Labour  to  know  your  state, 
in  this  respect.  What  is  your  dispensation  ?  Does 
Satan  seek  to  poison  your  sorrow  ?  Does  it  do  you 
no  good,  that  you  live  in  trouble  ?  Are  you  as  far 
from  God  as  before  ?  Have  you  not  at  all  learned  to 
look  upward,  and  to  beg  of  God  to  bring  you  to  him- 
self, and  to  give  you  a  right  mind  ?  Under  losses,  do 
you  still  want  to  find  a  friend  ?  and  have  you  no  desire 
for  the  only  one  that  can  support  you  ?  Have  you  no 
ear  to  hear  God  speaking  in  your  affliction  ?  no  prayer 
that  God  would  look  down,  and  make  these  things 
work  together  for  your  good  ?  Alas !  you  remind  me 
of  that  expression  of  the  Wise  Man,  '  Bray  a  fool  in 
a  mortar,  yet  will  not  his  foolishness  depart  from  him.' 
Learn,  then,  that  sin  is  such  a  poison,  that  if  God 
does  not  deliver  you,  even  your  sorrows  will  work 
your  death  :  for  affliction  and  pain  will  not,  of  them- 
selves, save  a  man ;  although,  in  God's  hand,  they 
have  done  mighty  things.    '  Godly  sorrow  worketh 


GODLY  AND  WORLDLY  SORROW.  237 


repentance  unto  salvation,  not  to  be  repented  of ;  bul 
the  sorrow  of  the  world  worketh  death.' 

2.  Let  us  remember,  on  this  subject,  what  a  bless- 

KD  MEDICINE  TRUE  RELIGION  IS,  thoUgh  SOrrOW  should 

be  intimately  mingled  in  the  dispensation. 

For  you  see,  that,  if  sin  grow  up  with  worldly  soi'- 
row;  yet  godly  repentance,  like  the  fabled  philoso- 
pher's stone^  will  turn  all  to  gold.  That  will  bless  a 
man  in  prosperity,  like  Abraham  ;  and  it  will  bless  a 
man  in  adversity,  like  Job.  Where  Christ  is  the  phy- 
sician, all  shall  work  together  for  good.  Whether 
lancets,  or  bitters,  or  caustics  be  in  the  physician's 
hand,  he  shall  do  good  wherever  he  comes.  'Godly 
sorrow  workctli  repentance  unto  salvation,  not  to  be 
repented  of.' 

" '  It  is  good  for  me,'  says  David,  '  that  I  have  been 
afflicted.'  I  was  going  astray  before,  but  godly  sor- 
row wrought  salvation  for  me."  So  that,  properly 
speaking,  a  skilful  person — a  man  who  has  travailed 
in  religion  himself,  and  learnt  the  benefit  of  God's 
corrections — will  frequently  in  his  mind  congratulate 
his  friend  while  he  feels  for  him,  when  passing  through 
an  operation.  During  the  operation,  he  may  feel 
most  keenly  ;  yet,  when  he  sees  the  benefit  produced, 
he  will  thank  God  for  the  affliction.  Either  in  his 
own  case,  or  in  that  of  any  friend,  health  is  his 
object. 

My  dear  hearers,  let  us  adopt  the  maxim  of  Lu- 
ther :  "  Burn,  Lord !  cut — do  any  thing — only  save  !" 
Whatever  be  the  means,  only,  if  by  any  means,  let  me 
be  saved ! 

3.  Since  godly  sorrow  worketh  repentance  unto 
salvation,  you  see  that  the  church  is  a  vineyard, 

WHICH   depends    no    LESS    ON    CLOUDY   DAYS  THAN 

ON  SUNSHINE,  for  its  growth  and  improvement. 

I  must  confess,  that  my  own  experience  and  obser- 
vation lead  me  to  prefer,  in  the  preaching  of  the  Gos- 
pel, the  sun  shining  on  the  wall  to  nourish  the  fruit; 

VOL.  II.  21* 


238 


SERMON  XXIV. 


yet,  we  see  among  us  persons  of  a  heady  and  obsti- 
nate disposition,  calling  for  continual  cordials.  The} 
think  that  they  obtain  no  benefit  from  a  sermon,  un^es^ 
they  get  comfort.  "  I  did  not  profit."  say  such  per- 
sons :  *'  I  got  no  good  by  the  sermon  :"  when  it  was. 
perhaps,  the  design  of  God  to  set  before  them  their 
plain  duty,  and  the  nature  of  their  trials  :  and  to  show 
them  how  to  glorify  him  in  their  trials,  and  to  escape 
the  snares  that  are  laid  for  their  feet :  but  they  got  no 
comfort,  therefore  no  good ! 

What  sort  of  a  patient  would  that  be,  who  would 
say  to  a  physician,  Your  medicine  was  not  pleasant. 
There  was  a  bitterness  in  it.  1  cannot  take  a  medi- 
cine which  is  not  cheering  to  my  spirits  ?*'  ^Vhat  son 
of  a  patient  is  such  an  one  ? 

Let  us  remember,  therefore,  that  the  Church  de- 
pends on  its  cloudy  and  rainy  days,  as  well  as  on  its 
days  of  sunshine. 

Suppose  a  man  had  looked  at  the  church  of  Co- 
rinth. ''■What  indignation  P''  says  he:  "  xohat  fear. 
Is  this  a  flourishing  church  ?"  '•  Yes,"  says  the  Apos- 
tle, "it  is:  these  are  symptoms  of  health:  these 
Christians  hereby  show  themselves  to  have  feeling 
and  life."  A  man,  that  feels  caustics  applied,  is  not 
mortified,  but  alive. 

Let  us  endeavour.  Brethren,  thus  to  possess  a  sound 
and  substantial  religion  :  then  it  will  be  spiritual  and 
experimental. 

Yon  pass  through  an  orchard ;  and,  when  the  wind 
is  high,  you  hear  a  rustling  of  the  leaves — great  mo- 
tion in  the  boughs  :  but.  when  you  come  to  examine 
the  tree,  there  is  no  fruit!  But.  says  the  Psalmist, 
•  Blessed  is  the  man,  that  walketh  not  in  the  counsel 
of  the  ungodly — but  whose  delight  is  in  the  law  of  the 
Lord,  and  who  meditates  in  his  law  day  and  night. 
He  shall  be  like  a  tree  planted  by  the  rivers  of  water, 
that  bringeth  forth  his  fruit  in  his  season  :  his  leaf  also 
shall  not  \vither,  and  whatsoever  ho  docth  shall 
prosper.' 


SERMON  XXV. 


THE  SEALING  OF  THE  SPIRIl'. 

Ephesians,  I,  13,  14. 

 Ve  were  sealed  with  that  Holy  Spirit  of  promise,  which  is  lh» 

earnest  of  our  inheritance. 

Here  is  a  blessed  character  of  the  righteous — to  be 
■  sealed  with  that  Holy  Spirit  of  promise' — to  have  an 
earnest  of  their  inheritance  heiore  they  ohtaxn  it.  My' 
dear  hearers,  I  pray  not  that  you  may  be  people  ol 
rank  or  of  fortune ;  for  that  might  prove  your  ruin : 
b\it  I  earnestly  pray  God,  that  every  one  of  you  ma} 
be  '  sealed  with  that  Holy  Spirit  of  promise,'  and 
have  the  earnest  of  your  inheritance  in  your  hearts, 
while  here  on  earth ;  and  that  you  may  enter  the 
grave  without  fear,  and  not  be  ashamed  when  Chris* 
cometh ! 

1.  Let  us  EXPLAIN  this  high  privilege  ;  and  consi- 
der what  it  is  to  be  sealed  with  that  Holy  Spirit  of 
promise,  and  thereby  to  have  the  earnest  of  the  in- 
heritance. 

2.  Let  us  make  some  remarks  on  the  subject. 

L  We  shall  EXPLAIN  what  it  is  to  be  sealed  with 
the  Spirit  of  Promise,  and  to  have  the  earnest  of  the 
inheritance. 

It  cannot  mean  an  extraordinary  gift  of  the  Holy 
Spirit;  such  as  the  working  of  Miracles:  for  the  gifl 
of  miracles  was  not  the  earnest  of  the  future  inheri- 
tance. But  this  sealing  of  the  Spirit  is  connected 
with  our  having  an  earnest ;  something  in  hand : 


240 


SERMON  XXV. 


something  assured  to  us  previous  to  that  which  i^ 
greater  and  better. 

Nor  can  it  mean  the  gift  of  Faith ;  however  thai 
may  be  the  root  of  other  graces :  because  it  is  said. 
'  After  that  ye  believed  ye  were  sealed.' 

It  will  be  proper  to  consider  the  image  here  em- 
ployed. What  is  sealing  ?  Sealing  is  a  common  act 
among  men,  to  ascertain  a  right  and  title  to  some  pro- 
perty :  as  when  a  man  writes  his  name  on  his  pro- 
perty, it  is  as  much  as  to  say,  "  This  is  mine."  It  is 
common  in  deeds,  to  assure  or  ascertain  a  title  to  pro- 
perty or  inheritance.  It  is  common  in  commerce : 
merchants  set  their  seals  as  a  mark  of  their  property. 
Thus,  in  Rev.  vii,  it  is  said  that  the  servants  of  God 
had  his  seal  in  their  foreheads :  and,  in  the  ixth  of 
Ezekiel,  it  is  said  to  the  men  that  went  forth  with  the 
slaughter  weapons  in  their  hands,  '  Go  ye  through  the 
city,  and  smite — but  come  not  near  any  man  upon 
whom  is  the  mark     touch  not  any  that  are  sealed. 

Now,  as  in  the  sealing  of  wax,  for  instance,  it  is 
first  softened  to  render  it  impressible :  so  God  says, 
by  Ezekiel,  '  I  will  take  away  the  stony  heart  out  of 
your  flesh,  and  will  give  you  a  heart  of  flesh  :'  that  is, 
a  soft  and  impressible  heart.  And  we  find,  in  fact, 
that  this  work  of  softening  and  impressing  is  carried 
on  in  a  Christian  as  long  as  he  lives. 

In  scaling,  also,  there  is  an  impression  left,  corres- 
ponding to  the  seal. 

The  figure  implies,  therefore,  After  that  ye  be- 
lieved, it  pleased  God  to  stamp  a  character  on  you — 
to  leave  an  impression — corresponding  to  the  seal  of 
the  Spirit  set  on  your  hearts ;  '  After  that  ye  believed, 
ye  were  sealed  with  that  Holy  Spirit  of  promise.' 
When  ye  became  men,  ye  put  away  childish  things : 
your  will  chose  the  better  part :  your  atfections  weir 
set  on  higher  objects."  When  God,  therefore,  seals  a 
man,  he  impresses  on  his  heart  a  character :  he  im- 
presses on  his  understanding,  his  will,  and  his  affcc- 


THE  SEALING  OF  THE  SPIRIT. 


241 


tions,  a  character  distinct  from  that  which  he  once 
had. 

Now,  as  a  seal,  in  order  to  impress  its  image,  must 
have  a  hand  to  use  it ;  so  the  '  Holy  Spirit  of  promise' 
is  this  agent ;  he  was  promised  by  the  prophets,  he 
was  promised  by  Christ,  to  this  very  end,  that  he 
should  soften  and  make  impressible  by  the  application 
of  his  word  to  the  hea  t — suggesting  truth — elevating 
the  soul  to  grasp  at  the  things  promised — enlarging  the 
mind,  and  enlivening  it  in  duty — sanctifying,  satisfying; 
melting  it ;  till,  at  length,  the  man  shall  say,  '  I  sat 
down  under  his  shadow  with  great  delight,  and  his 
fruit  was  sweet  to  my  taste.' 

Brethren !  a  Christian  receives  the  truth  in  the  love' 
of  it.  He  has  not  only  an  elevating  view  of  the  doc- 
trines of  the  Gospel,  but  there  is  a  character  impress- 
sed  on  his  mind  :  he  has  not  only  a  sentiment,  but  a 
spiritual  taste. 

Tell  us  not  what  such  a  man  as  Colonel  Gardiner 
may  have  been  before  his  conversion.  He  might  be 
wicked,  hardened,  sensual,  far  from  God  !  But  tell 
me  what  Colonel  Gardiner  was  after  he  received  the 
truth  :  after  that  truth,  by  the  Spirit  of  God,  had  im- 
pressed his  character  in  holiness,  humility,  love  of 
God,  in  a  peaceable  disposition  toward  his  neighbour, 
in  a  general  desire  to  do  good.  Tell  me  what  he  was 
afterward — '  A  light  in  the  world  !  salt  in  the  earth, 
that  had  not  lost  its  savour  !  a  city  set  upon  a  hill,  that 
could  not  be  hid  !'  a  mark  for  the  profligate  to  '  shoot 
their  arrows  at,  even  bitter  words!' 

The  same  may  be  said  of  Lord  Rochester.  He 
might  be  a  monster :  he  was  a  monster  ;  and  every 
man  who  had  any  regard  to  his  character,  would  have 
avoided  him.  But  tell  me  what  the  man  was,  after 
he  believed  the  truth,  and  was  sealed  with  that  Holy 
Spirit  of  promise.  He  stands  a  record — a  miracle  of 
(he  grace  of  God,  and  the  power  of  God ;  and  tell= 


242 


•SERMON  XXV. 


US  plainly,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  what  it  is  to  be  seal- 
ed zvith  that  Holy  Spirit  of  promise. 

"  But,"  say  you,  "  granting  all  this,  how  is  this  seal 
the  earnest  of  our  inheritance  ?" 

Earnest,  as  you  know,  is  a  part  of  payment;  a  se- 
curity for  the  remainder:  it  is  common  among  us,  to 
deliver  up  a  thing  of  great  value,  by  a  kind  of  pledge 
or  earnest  :  a  house  is  delivered  up,  by  delivering  up 
the  key. 

Now,  the  seal  of  which  I  have  been  speaking  differs 
from  a  common  seal  among  men,  in  that  it  is  both 
seal  and  earnest.  A  seal  may  be  annexed  to  a  deed,, 
but  it  may  be  cut  off  from  the  deed  :  the  deed  remains, 
but  there  is  no  seal.  But,  with  this  seal,  God  seems 
to  deliver  the  future  inheritance  :  as  if  he  should  say, 
"  They  are  inseparable  :  this  shall  be  an  authentic 
pledge,  earnest  and  evidence — heaven  begun  in  the 
soul !"  The  Spirit  of  Promise,  when  he  seals  a  char- 
acter, becomes  a  Spirit  of  Holiness,  a  Spirit  of  Con- 
solation ;  giving  us  a  taste  of  what  we  shall  become, 
since  we  are  heirs  of  the  future  inheritance. 

The  present  illumination,  therefore,  which  a  Chris- 
tian receives,  is  a  pledge  of  that  everlasting  light  to 
which  he  is  passing.  The  present  love  of  holiness, 
which  God  gives  him,  is  an  earnest  of  perfect  holi- 
ness among  the  spirits  of  just  men  made  perfect.  The 
present  comfort,  rest,  and  satisfaction,  which  a  godly 
man  receives,  is  a  taste  of  that  fulness  of  joy  which 
he  shall  find  in  the  presence  of  God. 

And  every  Christian  receives  his  portion  of  this 
earnest :  nor  did  I  ever  know  a  single  Christian,  who, 
at  the  very  lowest  ebb,  would  part  with  this  sealing  of 
the  Holy  Spirit,  this  newness  of  character,  for  all  that 
the  world  could  propose.  '  In  whom  also,  after  that 
ye  believed,  ye  were  scaled  with  that  Holy  Spirit  of 
promise.' 

If  the  faithful,  therefore,  are  sealed  by  the  Spirit 
of  God,  then,  though  the  moralist  may  ridicule  the 


THE  SEALING  OF  THE  SPIRIT, 


243 


thing,  though  an  antinonnian  may  reject  it,  though  an 
enthusiast  may  expose  it  ;  yet,  *  let  us  hold  fast  the 
profession  of  our  faith  without  wavering.'  A  coun- 
terfeit proves  that  there  is  real  coin. 

Let,  me,  then,  call  on  every  one  of  you  here  pre- 
cnt.  May  God  grant,  that  I  may  never  so  spend  my 
time,  nor  you  so  idly  waste  yours,  as  to  consider  points 
of  this  nature  in  a  merely  speculative  way,  to  pass 
away  our  hour  !  My  dear  hearers,  the  Gospel  is  every 
thing  or  nothing !  Examine,  therefore,  whether  God 
has  sent  his  Holy  Spirit  to  enlighten,  soften  and  im- 
press your  hearts  :  for,  if  you  could  speak  with  the 
tongue  of  men  or  angels,  and  had  not  this  holy  im- 
pression a  consciousness  of  the  nothingness  of 

present  things ;  and  a  hope  full  of  immortality,  that 
shall  lead  you  to  stretch  out  to  the  mark  of  the  prize 
set  before  you — all  your  hearing  will  only  tend  to 
condemnation. 

Whenever,  therefore,  this  work  of  the  spirit  of  God 
begins  to  be  spoken  lightly  of,  ask  yourselves  a  ques- 
tion :  "  What  is  the  image  and  superscription  written 
on  this  ?"  No  doubt  Satan  has,  herein  a  very  important 
end — to  sink  and  degrade  the  truth.  There  never 
was  a  time,  since  the  truth  was  first  set  forth,  but  thr 
evil  heart  of  man,  influenced  by  the  '  good  of  this 
world,'  was  always  attempting  to  degrade  the  truth  : 
some  taking  it  up  as  an  opiate ;  and  others  professing 
it,  as  a  means  of  accomplishing  some  sinister  end. 
But,  '  Thus  saith  the  Lord  :  If  any  man  have  not  the 
the  Spirit  of  Christ,  he  is  none  of  his.' 

Examine,  therefore,  whether  the  Spirit  has  impress- 
ed the  truth  on  your  mind,  to  any  saving  purpose. 

n.  Let  me  make  a  few  REMARKS  on  this  sub- 
ject. 

1.  Be  CAUTIOUS  OP  GRIEVING  THAT  HOLY  SPIRIT, 
WHEREBY  YE  ARE  SEALED  UNTO  THE  DAY  OF  RE- 
DEMPTION— that  Holy  Spirit,  who  put  vitality  and  ef- 
fect into  the  truth  proposed. 


244 


SERMON  XXV. 


It  is  impossible  that  you  can  trifle  with  sin,  it  is  im- 
possible that  you  can  go  on  unlawful  ground,  without 
grieving  the  Holy  Spirit.  You  may  fall,  and  you  may 
rise  again :  but,  if  you  go  out  of  the  way,  you  take 
consequences  on  yourself;  and,  if  you  meet  an  enemy 
there,  you  are  on  unconsecrated  ground.  And  '  we 
are  not  ignorant  of  his  devices  :  we  know  how  he  pre- 
sents before  you  the  innocence  of  this,  and  the  harm- 
lessness  of  that :  there  is  no  danger  at  all  in  making 
such  and  such  experiment !  there  is  no  contagion  in 
the  breath  of  wicked  men !  there  is  no  harm  at  all  in 
trying  how  far  some  new-fangled  doctrine  may  lead ! 
Be  cautious  of  making  attempts,  where  there  is  so 
much  danger.  The  path  of  duty  is  the  path  of  safety. 
Be  cautious,  therefore,  of  grieving  the  Holy  Spirit  of 
promise,  by  going  out  of  the  way,  when  it  is  evident 
who  is  the  counsellor,  when  it  is  evident  that  Satan  is 
endeavouring  to  surprise  you  off  God's  ground. 

Nor  should  you  give  way  to  a  repining  spirit : 
•'  How  sad  a  way !  How  painful  the  impression  God 
is  making,  in  his  providence !  so  that  1  seem  rather 
like  an  offender  punished,  than  a  child  brought  into 
his  family  !"  Do  you  know  what  effort  it  requires  to 
stamp  a  medal  ?  The  very  building  will  shake  with 
the  blow !  You  are  led,  perhaps,  by  a  way  that  is 
not  to  your  wish  :  it  is  not  the  way  of  ambition,  but  an 
humbling,  sanctifying  way,  not  approved  of  flesh  and 
blood  ;  but  does  it  lead  to  God  ?  does  it  stamp  a  cha- 
racter ?  If  affliction  put  you  upon  praying ;  if  it  lead 
you  to  say,  with  Israel,  '  I  will  return  unto  my  first 
husband,  for  then  was  it  better  with  me  than  now 
if  it  does  this,  remember,  that,  though  the  stroke  of  a 
sanctified  affliction  may  be  very  heavy,  though  the 
stamping  of  the  character  may  make  flesh  and  blood 
rebel,  yet  you  will  bless  God  through  eternity  that  he 
would  even  thus  stamp  his  image  on  you — that  he 
would  even  thus  make  you  meet  for  the  inheritance, 
of  which  he  had  already  given  you  an  earnest. 


THE  SEALING  OF  THE  SPIRIT. 


245 


2.  Let  me  suggest  a  caution  to  you  with 

RESPECT   to   this  EARNEST. 

A  seal  is  not  to  be  disputed,  because  it  is  not  per- 
fect. Take  a  case,  which  occurs  almost  daily.  You 
receive  a  letter,  or  a  bond  :  the  seal  has  been  affixed 
to  it — the  true  seal :  but  the  impression  is  not  per- 
fect. Do  you  doubt  the  reality  of  the  seal,  because 
the  impression  was  not  complete  ?  No ;  you  say,  "  It 
might  have  been  sealed  better,  but  it  is  a  true  seal." 
In  a  counterfeit  seal,  the  impression  may  be  strong 
and  well  defined;  yet  the  seal  is  good  for  nothing — a 
counterfeit — it  wants  authenticity ! 

But,  in  the  case  before  us,  the  Judge  can  neither 
deceive,  nor  be  deceived.  If  you  are  led  to  God,  and 
stamped  with  the  character  which  God  describes  as 
belonging  to  his  children ;  though  it  may  be  imper- 
fect, though  but  little  of  the  impression  may  appear, 
yet  let  us  rejoice  that  it  is  a  genuine  impression.  A 
man  of  integrity,  whose  heart  is  really  atiected,  may 
well  lament  that  he  does  not  come  nearer  the  true 
character ;  yet  let  him  take  heed  how  he  '  despises 
the  day  of  small  things.' 

3.  It  appears  from  the  text,  that  he,  that  hath 
this  seal  may  rest  secure  of  that  inheritance 
OF  which  it  is  an  earnest.  'Wliich,'  says  the 
Apostle, '  is  tlie  earnest  of  your  inheritance.' 

'Of  his  own  will,'  God  has  made  the  impression. 
I  cannot  make  it.  Of  all  the  means  of  speaking  that 
I  can  devise,  with  all  the  consciousness  that  I  have  of 
the  importance  of  the  thing,  I  cannot  make  an  impres- 
sion on  your  hearts,  and  you  are  witnesses  that  I  can- 
not. You  know  how  long — how  many  years — some 
of  you  have  heard  these  truths  in  this  place,  without 
any  impression  at  all !  You  have  lived  like  the  rest  of 
the  world  !  Who  then  makes  the  impression  where 
it  is  made  ?  God  :  '  that  Holy  Spirit  of  promise,  who 
is  to  convince  the  world  of  sin,  of  righteousness,  and 
of  judgment.    Of  his  own  will  begat  he  us :'  he  has 

voi,.  n.  22 


246 


SERMON  XXV. 


impressed  our  hearts.  Christ  has  purchased  the 
possession,  and  the  Holy  Spirit  applies  it,  and  gives 
the  earnest  of  it.    If  we  are  sealed,  it  is  by  his  will. 

God,  therefore,  by  his  prophet,  seems  to  say,  "  Lift 
up  your  eyes :  look  around :  behold  the  starry  hea- 
vens :  they  shall '  vanish  like  smoke  :'  they  shall  '  wax 
old  as  doth  a  garment :'  they  shall  be  folded  together, 
and  thrown  aside,  as  a  worn-out  vesture.  But  '  my 
righteousness  shall  remain  for  ever :  my  salvation 
shall  never  be  abolished.'  Every  thing  which  you 
see  shall  pass  away :  but  my  sealing  shall  never  be 
destroyed." 

A  theatre  may  charm  the  eye  with  the  variety  oi 
its  scenes ;  and,  for  the  moment,  a  man  may  imagine 
himself  on  enchanted  ground  :  but,  if  he  feels  that  he 
has  in  his  possession  the  earnest  of  some  inheritance, 
on  which  he  builds  his  hope  and  expectation  for  future 
life ;  if  he  has  a  pledge  about  him,  however  small, 
that  such  and  such  an  estate  is  purchased  for  him  and 
conveyed  to  him  ;  by  that  earnest  he  recollects  him- 
self, and  says,  "  These  are  pretty  things — pleasing  to 

the  eye  :  but  but  they  are  not  like  my  pledge ! 

They  are  things  that  have  a  glare,  and  seem  to  suit 
the  senses  for  a  moment  or  two ;  but  they  are  not  the 
solid  property  of  which  I  am  possessed.  When  gone 
by,  therefore,  I  care  not  about  them :  the  pledge,  the 
earnest,  is  all  my  felicity !" 

That  you  and  1  may  feel  thus  toward  our  heavenly 
inheritance,  and  enjoy  it  in  prospect  in  time,  and  in 
possession  through  eternity,  may  God  grant  for  Jesus 
Christ's  sake ! 


SERMON  XXVI. 


ON  CHASTISEMENT. 

Hebrews,  xii,  5,  6. 

\  e  have  forgotten  the  Exhortation  which  speaketh  unto  you  as  uiito 
children,  My  son,  despise  not  thovi  the  chastening  of  the  Lord; 
nor  faint  when  thou  art  rebuked  of  him  :  for  whom  the  Lord  lov- 
eth,  he  chasteneth ;  and  scourgeth  every  son,  whom  he  receiveth. 

Among  the  variety  of  subjects,  on  which  a  Minister  is 
called  to  treat,  many  may  suit  particular  cases ;  but, 
when  he  speaks  of  Affliction,  he  speaks  of  that  which 
is  sure  to  interest  every  one,  at  one  period  or  other  of 
their  lives.  When  affliction  comes,  they  will,  per- 
haps, remember  what  has  been  said  with  reference  to 
their  case  ;  for  '  man  is  born  to  trouble,  as  the  sparks 
fly  upward.' 

But  it  appears  from  the  passage  before  us,  that  per- 
sons are  perplexed  in  their  afflictions,  chiefly  because 
they  'forget  the  exhortation  which  s|)eaketh  unto 
them  as  unto  children.'  To  Christians,  more  par- 
ticularly, these  words  are  addressed :  God,  treating 
them  as  his  children,  calls  on  them  not  to  '  despise  the 
chastening  of  the  Lord,  nor  to  faint  when  they  are  re- 
buked and  that,  because  it  is  his  common  method  of 
proceeding — the  dispensation  of  the  Christian — that, 
•  whom  the  Lord  loveth,  he  chasteneth ;  and  scourgeth 
every  son  whom  he  receiveth.' 

From  the  words  of  the  text,  without  having  any  re- 
spect to  the  particular  case  of  the  Hebrew  converts  to 
whom  they  were  addressed,  we  shall  consider. 


248 


SERMox  xxn. 


1.  That  it  is  the  high  privilege  of  a  chris- 
tian, THAT  HIS  AFFLICTION'S.  WHATEVER  THET  MAT 
BE,  ARE   BUT   THE   DISCIPLINE   OF   A  FATHER. 

2.  The  TWO  DANGEROUS  EXTREMES  CONCERNING 
WHICH   WE   ARE   ADMONISHED   IN   THE  TEXT,  and  intO 

which  men  are  apt  to  fall  under  this  parental  chastise- 
ment :  My  son.  despise  thoc  not  :  and.  My  son. 
FAINT  NOT  under  it. 

I.  We  are  to  consider  the  high  PRIVILEGE  of  a 
Christian :  that  his  afflictions  are  but  the  discipline  of 
a  father. 

The  Apostle  here  states  the  common  case  of  Chris- 
tians. Everv  one  of  them  is  brought  into  the  privi- 
lege of  the  sons  of  God.  and  treated  as  such.  "  If  ye 
are  Christ's.'  says  the  Apostle. '  then  are  ye  Abraham's 
seed.  To  as  many  as  received  him.  to  them  save  he 
the  privilege  to  become  the  sons  of  God.'  They  are 
spoken  of  as  haviiiij  been  chosen  of  old.  received  into 
the  family  of  heaven,  and  treated  as  children  sent  to 
school,  under  education  preparing  for  glory.  They 
may  be.  for  a  time,  under  great  trials.  They  may  be 
tried  as  the  widow  was  by  the  unjust  judge,  when  she 
came  to  be  avenged  of  her  adversary- :  •  Hear.'  said 
our  Lord,  "what  the  unjust  Judge  saith:  Lest  this  wo- 
man trouble  me  by  her  continual  coming.  I  will  avemre 
her:  and  shall  not  God  avenge  his  own  elect,  that  cr} 
day  and  night  unto  him  ?' 

Fatherly  chastisement,  therefore,  is  inseparably  con- 
nected with  the  adoption  of  children,  and  the  love 
that  God  bears  to  them.  If  then  a  Christian  should 
say.  '■  Why  am  I  thus  ?  and  why  do  such  afflictions  thus 
surround  me  ."' — ^the  answer  is  evident :  Because  you 
have  a  father,  and  because  it  is  his  method  :  '  Whom 
the  Lord  loveth  he  chasteneth :  If  ye  endure  chasten- 
ing. God  dealeth  with  you  as  with  sons :  for  what  son 
is  he  whom  the  father  chasteneth  not  ?  But.  if  ye  be 
without  chastisement,  whereof  all  are  partakers,  then 
are  ye  bastards,  and  not  sons.'    You  have  then  no 


ON  CHASTISEMENT. 


249 


evidence  that  you  are  under  education  :  you  have  no 
cvdence  that  God  is  leading  you  by  that  narrovr  path, 
pointed  out  by  himself,  suited  to  your  case  and  con- 
dition ;  by  which  you  will  not  only  arrive  at  glory, 
but  be  made  '  meet  for  the  inheritance  of  the  saints  in 
light.' 

Not  a  day  passes  over  our  heads,  but  we  have  an 
illustration  of  this  case  in  our  own  families.  Have 
we  children  ? — Why  do  we  put  them  under  task-mas- 
ters and  tutors  ?  Why  ? — that  their  minds  may  be 
trained  to  patience  and  submission.  Do  we  treat  our 
servants  thus  ? 

A  Christian  may,  under  a  sense  of  his  high  privi- 
lege and  his  high  calling,  walk  gratefully  as  it  be- 
cometh  one  of  the  sons  of  God :  yet  there  are  cases 
and  circumstances  in  which  even  such  men  as  David. 
Ilezekiah,  and  Peter  experience  that  it  is  good  to 
have  fear  as  well  as  love  in  exercise  ;  and  that  when 
love  fails,  it  is  good  to  have  fear  kept  alive  in  the 
heart,  and  to  have  an  experience  of  the  affliction,  and 
misery,  and  pain  that  sin  occasions,  and  that  it  is  an 
evil  thing  and  bitter  to  depart  from  the  living  God. 

Does  a  man  argue,  "  I  am  a  son  ;  but  I  know  nof 
trouble?"  I  will  say  to  such  an  one,  "Stay  a  little: 
perhaps  it  is  at  the  door :  and  it  m  ill  be  well  if  you 
do  not  faint,  under  what  you  have  soon  to  meet  with. 
The  Apostle  tells  us,  that  all  the  children  of  God  arc 
partakers  of  this  dispensation." 

Does  another  say,  "  I  am  so  chastised,  the  rod  is  so 
heavy  on  my  back,  that  I  fear  I  am  not  a  son  ?"  This 
man  forgets  '  the  exhortation  which  speaketh  unto  you 
as  unto  children ;'  for  this  dispensation  of  suffering  is 
rather  a  mark  that  you  are  a  child :  it  is  God's  con- 
stant method  :  '  for  what  son  is  he  whom  the  Father 
chasteneth  not  ?' — '  Wherefore,'  says  the  Apostle, 
'  lift  up  the  hands  which  hang  down,  and  the  feeble 
knees,  and  make  straight  paths  for  your  feet,  lest  tha< 

VOT..  tr.  22* 


•250 


SERMON  XXVI. 


which  is  lame  be  turned  out  of  the  way,  but  let  it  ra- 
ther be  healed.' 

"  But,"  say  you.  "  I  am  more  distressed,  because  a 
good  man  is  the  cause  of  my  suffering."  Here  you 
dwell  on  the  instrument  I  Here  you  forget  "  the  ex- 
hortation which  speaketh  unto  you  as  unto  children !' 
The  scourge  may  consist  of  various  cords ;  and  any 
instrument  will  serve  God's  purpose  when  he  chooses 
to  employ  it.  Be  thankful,  therefore,  that  God  will 
teach,  and  correct,  and  chastise  you  ;  and  that,  by  any 
means  which  may  have  a  tendency  to  bring  you  nearer 
to  himself. 

Wliat  have  any  of  us  learnt  to  purpose,  but  in  tlii? 
way  ?  so  that  we  have  had  reason  to  say.  with  David. 
"  '  It  is  good  for  me  that  I  have  been  afflicted  :  before 
I  was  afflicted  I  went  astray I  had  '  foi^otten  the 
exhortation,  which  speaketh  unto  me  as  unto  a  child  ;* 
but  afterward  I  perceived  the  peaceable  fruits  ol 
righteousness  arise  from  my  trouble.  I  perceived 
the  necessity  of  that  education,  which  I  thought  try- 
ing and  severe." 

Lord  Bacon  remarks,  that,  however  temporal  pros- 
perity might  be  promised  to  the  Church  under  the  old 
dispensation,  affliction,  and  suffering,  and  trial,  are  the 
promises  made  to  the  Church  under  the  new. 

We  see,  therefore,  that  it  is  one  of  the  privileges 
of  a  Christian,  that  his  afflictions,  of  whatsoever 
nature  they  be,  are  but  the  discipline  of  a  father. 

II.  I  was  to  consider  the  TWO  DANGEROU.S 
EXTREMES  of  which  we  are  here  admonished, 
while  under  this  fatherly  chastisement. 

We  satisfy  ourselves  often  in  avoiding  the  error  on 
the  right-hand,  while  an  equally  dangerous  one  lies  on 
the  left.  A  traveller,  in  passing  over  a  bridge,  thinks 
perhaps  that  he  cannot  go  too  far  on  one  side  to  avoid 
a  dangerous  precipice  on  the  other ;  but  there  is  dan- 
ger on  both  sides. 

To  despise  and  to  faint  arc  the  two  extremes  to 


ON  CHASTISEMENT. 


251 


which  we  are  liable  under  our  sufferings.  Let  us 
consider  these  extremes. 

1 .  Pride  will  stand  up,  and  hold  out  long.  There 
is  a  stiff  neck,  an  unbending  spirit,  an  indisposition  to 
yield.  It  requires  many  severe  strokes  to  bring  a 
man  before  God :  nor  will  these  avail,  unless  the  grace 
of  God  accompany  them.  The  man  is  infatuated  :  he 
goes  from  one  broken  cistern  to  another.  He  tries,  il' 
possible,  to  build  himself  up.  He  has  no  thought  of 
returning  to  God. 

This  is  DESPISING  the  chastening  of  the  Lord. 

There  is  a  remarkable  illustration  of  this  subject  in 
the  second  chapter  of  the  prophecy  of  Hosea.  Israel 
said,  '  I  will  go  after  my  lovers,  that  give  me  my  bread 
and  my  water,  my  wool  and  my  flax,  my  oil  and  my 
drink.  Therefore,  behold,'  saith  the  Lord,  '  I  will 
hedge  up  thy  way  with  thorns,  and  make  a  wall,  thai 
she  shall  not  find  her  paths I  will  bring  on  disap- 
pointment, and  discipline,  and  chastisement,  till  she 
be  taught  to  say,  '  I  will  go  and  return  to  my  first  hus- 
band, for  then  was  it  better  with  me  than  now.' 

You  have  seen  a  perverse  child,  because  you  take- 
away the  knife  from  it,  that  it  shall  not  be  in  danger, 
dash  its  bread  to  the  ground.  Thus  is  it  with  those 
who  will  have  their  own  will  and  way.  This  stub- 
bornness of  heart,  this  stiffness  of  neck,  this  refusing 
to  bow  down,  and  to  say,  '  Thy  will  be  done  on  earth, 
as  it  is  done  in  heaven' — this  is  the  temper  which 
leads  us  to  despise  the  chastening  of  the  Lord. 

A  man  may  say,  "  I  thank  God  I  do  not  faint,  what- 
ever be  the  circumstances  of  my  dispensation  :  but  J 
bear  up  under  it."  Do  you  despise  it  ?  do  you  neg- 
lect it?  do  you  not  at  all  listen  to  the  voice  of  God 
in  it  ?  or  do  you  say,  with  Job,  '  Show  me  wherefore 
thou  contendest  with  me  ?'  In  this  way  men  are  seen 
*  kicking  against  the  pricks,'  as  the  Scripture  expresses 
it;  and  to  such  I  would  say,  Take  heed,  while  you 
despise  the  gentle  stroke,  and  think  lightly  of  what 


252 


SERMON  XXVI. 


God  is  doing,  lest  he  take  to  himself  his  great  power, 
and  bring  a  heavier  stroke  on  you  ;  for  he  hath  said- 
•  He,  that  being  often  admonished,  hardeneth  his  neck.* 
despiseth  and  neglecteth  the  chastisement,  "  shall  sud- 
denly be  destroyed,  and  that  without  remedy.' 

2.  But  there  is  another  extreme  :  there  is  a  faixt- 
i.vG  under  tlie  chastening  of  the  Lord. 

Unbelief  is  the  cause  of  this  fainting.  It  is  said 
concerning  Moses,  that  'he  endured' — he  made  a  - 
stand — he  bore  up,  '  as  seeing  him  who  is  invisible.' 
If  we  look  only,  as  Peter  did,  at  the  waves  around 
us.  we  shall  inevitably  sink.  We  shall  then,  with 
.Job.  feel  our  affliction,  and  our  spirits  unable  to  meet 
the  affliction  :  or.  like  Jeremiah,  when  he  sunk  in  the 
pit,  we  shall  speak  as  if  we  were  cut  oif  and  deceived : 
or,  like  Elijah,  our  impatience  under  our  dispensation 
may  be  such,  that  we  cannot  wait  till  God  shall  stand 
forth  as  our  avenger  and  deliverer ;  but  shall  say, '  Let 
me  die  !  it  is  enough  !  take  away  my  life.' 

Fainting  tends  to  put  a  misconstruction  on  whai 
God  is  doing.  Thus  Jacob  said.  "  All  these  things  arc 
:\gainst  me.'  Thus  David  said.  •  1  shall  one  day  perish 
by  the  hand  of  Saul.'  We  lean  to  our  own  under- 
standings :  we  see  but  a  very  little  of  God's  design : 
unbelief  prevails  :  we  say,  '•  All  this  is  against  me!" 
Then  pride  and  peevishness  will  make  us  sink,  as  Jo- 
nah did  under  his  dispensation ;  so  that,  instead  of 
trusting  our  Father,  we  foi^et  his  exhortation. 

A  man.  under  trials,  will  sometimes  say,  "  The 
affliction  lies  so  heavy  on  me.  that  I  cannot  support 
it.  I  wish  to  die  :"  that  is.  you  forget  the  exhortation  : 
you  consult  your  own  understanding:  you  faint  under 
the  chastening  of  the  Lord. 

But  the  exhortation  is.  to  take  away  the  two  ex- 
tremes :  neither  despise  the  correction  of  the  Lord : 
nor  faint  under  it.  though  thou  art  chastened. 

More  especially  is  this  exhortation  a  call  on  us  to 
examine  our  state.    One  stroke  may  follow  another. 


ON  CHASTISEMENT. 


253 


to  rouse  a. man — to  show  him  that  this  is  not  his  rest ; 
that  he  is  seeking  repose  in  the  present  world,  which 
God  has  determined  he  shall  not  find. 

If  you  are  under  a  dispensation  of  alarming  chas- 
tisement, and  God  is  calling  for  your  attention,  and 
awakening  you  from  your  slumber,  take  it  up  in  this 
way,  and  say,  with  Job.  "  Show  me  wherefore  thou  con- 
fendest  with  me  :  let  me  know  what  is  that  besetting 
sin,  that  secret  idol,  which  thou  art  opposing.  Make 
me  to  understand  thy  way  ;  and  let  me  hear  thy  voice 
in  the  particular  dispensation  under  which  I  stand." 

How  strange  and  absurd  to  imagine  that  God  would 
suffer  his  children  to  act  inconsistently  with  their  Chris- 
tian profession,  without  contending  with  them  as  a  fa- 
ther would  with  his  son.  who  was  taking  wicked  cour- 
ses !  This  contention  implies  that  he  is  not  abandoned. 
It  is  as  much  as  if  God  should  say,  '  How  shall  1  give 
thee  up,  Ephrai  u  ?  how  shall  1  make  thee  as  Admah, 
or  set  thee  as  Zeboim  ?' 

Such  a  man  is  called  to  examine  if  there  be  not  a 
cause;  such  as  there  was  in  the  camp  of  Israel. 
Every  thing  went  wrong  there.  Joshua  mourned, 
that  the  armies  of  Israel  should  fall  before  the  hea- 
then :  but  he  was  called  to  search  if  there  were  not  a 
secret  evil  in  the  camp,  if  there  were  not  some  wedge 
of  gold,  or  some  Babylonish  garment ;  something  that 
was  like  a  canker,  like  a  plague,  a  mortal  plague  in 
the  camp,  which  must  be  removed  before  the  chas- 
tisement could  be  taken  away. 

Let  me  call  on  such  as  have  not  diligently  examined 
their  hearts, — on  such  as  have  not  proceeded  with 
that  simplicity,  and  watchfulness,  and  integrity,  which 
a  Christian  ought  to  exercise — examine  whether  God 
is  not  contending  with  you  :  and  if  you  are  under  a 
dispensation  of  purification,  inquire  whether  you  meet 
it  with  the  patient  enduring  of  a  child.  God  hath 
said  expressly  that  he  is  a  father;  and  that,  as  a  father, 
he  correcteth  his  children,  and  useth  such  discipline 


254 


SERMON  XXVI. 


and  means  as  may  bring  them  into  the  right  way,  con- 
form them  to  his  mind,  produce  contrition  in  the  heart, 
and  pull  down  the  strong-holds  of  pride  and  vain  ima- 
ginations, and  root  out  the  carnal  idolatry  which  is 
apt  to  creep  into  the  heart  of  every  Christian. 

Remember,  then,  '  the  exhortation  which  speaketh 
unto  you  as  unto  children.'  Pray  for  the  increase  of 
faith.  This  will  bring  the  invisible  things  of  God  be- 
fore you,  and  show  you  the  narrow  path  in  which  he 
has  been  used  to  lead  his  children.  Give  him  unlim- 
ited confidence,  and  beseech  the  Holy  Spirit  to  enable 
you  to  trust  God  in  the  darkest  night  into  which  he 
can  possibly  bring  you.  Consider  past  times  and  ex- 
perience ;  and  what  is  recorded  in  Scripture  of  those 
who  have  been  thus  led  before  you. 

Consider  the  remarkable  language  of  Job:  'Oh, 
that  I  knew  where  I  might  find  him!  that  I  might 
come  even  to  his  seat!'  that  is,  I  wish  to  understand 
the  cause  :  but,  while  '  I  would  fill  my  mouth  with  ar- 
guments' upon  it,  yet,  says  he,  '  behold !  I  go  forward, 
but  he  is  not  there  ;  and  backward,  but  I  cannot  per- 
ceive him  :  on  the  left-hand  where  he  doth  work,  but 
I  cannot  behold  him:  he  hideth  himself  on  the  right- 
hand,  that  I  cannot  see  him.'  What  is  to  be  done  in 
such  a  case  ? — give  him  unlimited  confidence ;  and 
say,  as  Job  says  in  the  next  verse,  '  He  knoweth  the 
way  that  I  take  :  when  he  hath  tried  me,  I  shall  come 
forth  as  gold  :'  he  is  a  refiner,  that  sitteth  to  purify 
the  sons  of  Levi ;  and  the  end  will  be,  that  though  I 
cannot  find  out  what  he  is  doing  as  to  the  particulars, 
yet  1  know  the  end  will  be,  that,  when  he  hath  tried 
me,  I  shall  come  forth  as  gold. 

'  Wherefore,'  says  the  Apostle,  '  seeing  we  are  com- 
passed about  with  so  great  a  cloud  of  witnesses' — 
who  have  left  an  express  testimony,  and  have  weathe- 
red the  difficulties  they  had  to  meet  with  ;  who  have 
borne  the  burden  and  heat  of  the  day,  have  endured 
and  have  not  fainted — '  let  us  lay  aside  every  weight. 


Ox\  CHASTISEMENT. 


255 


and  the  sin  which  doth  so  easily  beset  us,  and  let  us 
run  with  patience  the  race  set  before  us,  looking  unto 
Jesus,  the  author  and  finisher  of  our  faith he  fol- 
lowed the  same  path;  and,  '  for  the  joy  that  was  set 
before  him,  endured  the  cross,  despising  the  shame, 
and  is  set  down  at  the  right-hand  of  the  throne  of 
God.  For  consider  him  that  endured  such  contradic- 
tion of  sinners  against  himself — ye  have  not  resisted 
unto  blood,  striving  against  sin,'  as  Jesus  did,  and  his 
disciples  after  him.  '  And  ye  have  forgotten  the  ex- 
hortation, which  speaketh  unto  you  as  unto  children 
and  declares  plainly,  that  the  danger  is  not  only  despi- 
sing the  chastening  of  the  Lord,  but  fainting  under  it, 
and  not  recollecting  that  '  whom  the  Lord  loveth  he 
chasteneth,  and  scourgeth  every  son  whom  he  recei- 
veth.' 

That  you  and  I  may  lay  these  words  to  heart,  may 
God,  of  his  infinite  mercy,  grant,  through  Jesus  Christ 
our  Lord. 


SERMON  XXVII. 


llEMEMBRA^XE  OF  CHRISTIAN  MINISTER^. 

Preached  January  3,  1808,  on  Occasion  of  the  Death  of  the  Rif. 
John  Newtoiv. 

Heb.  XIII,  7,  8. 

Remember  them  which  have  the  rule  over  you,  who  have  spokeji 
unto  you  tlie  word  of  God  :  whose  faith  follow,  considering  the 
end  of  their  conversation.  Jesus  Christ  the  same  yesterday,  and 
to-day,  and  for  ever. 

I  HAVE  been  absent  from  you  this  morning,  to  improve 
the  departure  of  that  venerable  servant  of  Christ,  the 
Rev.  John  Newton.  His  conversion  to  God  was 
singular :  his  services  have  been  eminent ;  and  his 
spirit  so  entirely  what  we  are  taught  to  consider  as 
characteristic  of  a  Christian, — so  mild  so  gentle,  so 
bent  on  glorifying  God  and  recovering  his  fallen  crea- 
tures— that  I  could  not  but  still  dwell  in  my  mind  on 
the  deceased,  after  I  had  done  the  work  appointed  me. 
This  has  led  me  to  the  present  subject. 
Let  us  endeavour, 

1.  To  EXPLAIN  these  words. 

2.  To  IMPRESS  them  on  your  hearts  and  con- 
sciences. 

I.  We  are  to  EXPLAIN  these  words. 

St.  Paul,  the  '  wise  master-builder,'  had  been  '  lay- 
ing the  foundation.'  He  had  been  setting  forth  Christ 
as  the  glory  of  the  Gospel.  In  this  chapter  he  gives 
some  general  rules,  and  one  of  them  is  the  passage 
before  us :  '  Remember  them  which  have  the  rule  over 


CHRISTIAN  MINISTERS. 


257 


you.'  It  might  be  more  exactly  rendered,  '  Remem- 
ber your  guides  :'  remember  your  leaders  :  remember 
whom  God  has  appointed,  as  your  particular  shep- 
herds ;  for  God  employs  men  to  assist  men  ;  God  em- 
ploys men  to  recover  men.  '  I  will  make  you,'  Christ 
said,  'tishers  of  men.' 

'  Remember  them,'  says  the  Apostle,  '  which  have 
the  rule  over  you,'  which  have  been  your  guides  and 
leadei's,  '  which  have  spoken  unto  you  the  word  of 
God.'  As  though  he  had  said,  "  Visionaries  may 
come  among  you,  who  will  say,  '  I  have  dreamed,  I 
have  dreamed :'  I  call  you  not  to  remember  them. 
Yea, '  There  shall  be  grievous  wolves,'  and  perhaps 
in  sheeps'  clothing ;  who  shall  have  a  design  to  devour 
and  destroy  the  flock  :  keep  clear  of  them  :  take  care 
of  youi-selves :  no  greater  frauds  and  iniquities  have 
been  practised  than  in  the  religious  world.  Others 
will  bring  you  Traditions,  and  try  to  set  up  something 
in  the  stead  of  Christianity,  as  the  dead  image  of  a 
living  thing :  I  do  not  say.  Remember  them.  Some 
will  think  of  nothing  but  their  Party :  for,  '  All  seek 
their  own,  and  not  the  things  which  are  Jesus  Christ's.' 
Others  will  come  among  you  in  the  form  of  ministers, 
who  are  mere  hypocrites,  and  see  nothing  but  the  mor- 
sel of  bread  :  '  Put  me,  I  pray  thee,  into  the  priest's 
office,  that  I  may  eat  a  morsel  of  bread.'  I  call  you 
not  to  remember  such  as  these  :  but  '  remember  them 
that  have  spoken  unto  you  the  word  of  God ;'  who 
have  themselves  understood  it  and  felt  its  influence, 
and  are  appointed  to  minister  it  to  others.  Do  not 
forget  their  labours,  their  zeal,  their  atTection.  Re- 
member them  as  your  best  friends :  if  they  have  re- 
proved you,  it  is  a  proof  of  friendship  :  if  they  have 
borne  with  jour  infirmities,  it  is  because  they  know 
their  own,  and  were  called  to  be  nursing-fathers  :  if 
they  have  tried  to  entice  you,  to  '  draw  you  with  the 
cords  of  a  man  and  the  bonds  of  love,  esteem  them 
very  highly  for  their  work's  sake ;'  and  if  they  have 

VOL.  II.  23 


258 


SERMON  XXVil. 


maintained  their  Christian  profession,  though  at  the 
risk  of  being  called  fools  and  enthusiasts,  remembei 
(hat  they  are  such  as  God  commends,  having  found 
those  servants  with  their  loins  girded,  and  their  lamps 
burning." 

But  they  arc  gone  ! — And.  therefore,"  say  some, 
•  what  more  have  we  to  do  with  them  !  what  can  the) 
profitus?"  hi  one  view,  indeed,  they  are  gone:  theyarc 
called  away  ;  they  are  taken  home  ;  they  '  have  fought 
the  good  tight,  and  finished  their  course,  and  kept  the 
faith.'  But,  in  another  sense,  though  they  are  dead, 
yet  they  speak  :  they  will  retain  a  hold  on  the  con- 
sciences of  those  who  heard  them,  while  any  tender- 
ness remains  therein.  Of  some  it  may  be  said,  that 
they  never  die  :  they  yet  live  :  they  yet  speak  :  they 
have  been  the  instruments  of  more  good  after  their 
death,  than  they  were  throughout  their  lives. 

But  the  apostle  adds,  •  Follow  their  Faith.'  As 
though  he  had  said,  *'  Follow  not  their  peculiarities, — 
their  infirmities.  Say,  '  This  is  a  man, — a  poor  crea- 
ture at  the  best.'    But  follow  their  Faith." 

Follow  the  DOCTRINES  which  they  have  maintain- 
ed :  let  their  testimony  remain  in  your  consciences, 
for  you  must  give  an  account  thereof  to  •  Him  who 
shall  judge  the  quick  and  dead.'  This  sl?all  fully  ap- 
pear in  the  great  day  of  account,  when  it  shall  be  said, 
•'  What  did  you  hear  from  that  leader,  that  guide,  that 
minister  whom  I  sent  to  speak  to  your  heart  ?  '  I  stood 
at  the  door  and  knocked,'  while  he  was  expostulating 
with  you.  He  cried  to  you,  "  Behold  the  Lamb  of 
God,  which  taketh  away  the  sin  of  the  world.'  He 
proclaimed  the  remedy,  appointed  for  the  misery  and 
guilt  of  the  world.  No  man  could  say,  '  There  is  no 
hope !  I  know  not  what  to  do  !  I  am  a  guilty  creature, 
and  there  is  no  refuge  !  ttliat  must  I  do  to  be  saved  V 
He  cried  aloud,  '  Believe  on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
and  thou  shalt  be  saved ;'  for  he  was  '  exalted  to  be  a 
Prince  and  a  Saviour,  to  give  repentance  and  forgive- 


CHRISTIAN  MINISTERS.  259 


ness  of  sins.'  Your  minister  declared  to  you  the  grace 
of  God's  Spirit,  whose  breath  could  raise  the  dry  bones 
into  a  living  man." 

No  man  more  consistently  declared  and  exhibited 
these  doctrines  than  the  deceased  Minister  of  whom  I 
am  speaking. 

Whose  faith  follow — follow  not  only  the  Doctrines 
of  their  faith  :  but  the  exercises  and  habits  of  their 
faith :  for  it  is  one  thing  to  speculate  on  the  truth, — to 
give  a  mere  assent  to  it :  and  it  is  another  thing  to 
have  it  in  exercise,  to  '  endure  as  seeing  him  who  is 
invisible,'  and  to  bring  it  into  action  in  all  the  circum- 
stances of  life.  I  feel,  in  this  respect,  a  great  and  la- 
mentable defect  in  my  own  heart,  and  observe  it  in  the 
conduct  of  others.  Faith  is  not  to  be  considered  only 
with  reference  to  the  grand  points  of  'ustification  and 
sanctitication,  and  our  being  glorified  in  the  end  :  but 
a  Christian  is  to  be  a  man  of  faith  with  reference  to  all 
circumstances.  Follow  the  faith,  therefore,  of  Chris- 
tian Ministers,  in  endeavouring  to  bring  it  into  daily 
exercise,  and  habitual  employ. 

Follow  the  FRUIT  of  their  faith,  hnitate  their  zeal, 
their  labours  of  love,  their  patience,  their  usefulness, 
their  conflicts,  their  instant  prayer. 

'  Whose  faith  follow,  considering  the  end  of  their 
conversation.'  Some  read  these  words  thus  :  'consi- 
dering the  end  of  their  conversation,  which  was  to  set 
forth  Jesus  Christ,  the  same  yesterday,  and  to-day, 
and  for  ever.'  This  is,  in  itself,  good  counsel ;  but  it 
is  not  the  sense  of  the  passage :  for,  when  the  Apostle 
says,  '  considering  the  end  of  their  conversation,'  he 
means  consider  the  escape  zchich  they  made. 

The  word  which  he  employs  is  used  but  once  more 
in  the  New  Testament.  In  the  tenth  chapter  of  the 
First  Epistle  to  the  Corinthians,  where  the  Apostle 
says,  '  There  hath  no  temptation  taken  you,  but  such 
as  is  common  to  man  :  but  God  is  faithful,  who  will 
not  suffer  you  to  be  tempted  above  that  ye  are  able : 


260 


SERMON  XXni. 


but  will  with  the  temptation  also  make  a  way  to 
escape,  that  ye  may  be  able  to  bear  it.'  Observe — 
■  make  a  way  to  escape  :'  it  is  the  same  word  that  is 
here  used — '  Consider  the  escape  which  they  have 
made' — their  exit — their  outlet — their  end ;  how  ho- 
nourable, as  good  soldiers,  and  servants,  and  stewards 
of  Jesus  Christ. 

When  Christian  Ministers  have  finished  their  work, 
and  God  calls  them  home,  they  may  depart  on  their 
beds :  but.  if  they  even  depart  at  the  stake,  they  will 
cry,  ''Victory!"  No  man  can  rob  them  of  their 
crown.  They  have  overcome  the  world,  the  flesh, 
and  the  devil ;  and.  in  their  going  out,  they  cry, 
"  Victory  !" 

But  some  will  say,  "  They  are  gone  !  Elijah  is.  in- 
deed, honourably  taken  away ;  but  we  are  ready  to 
rend  our  mantles,  and  say,  '  WTiere  is  the  Lord  God 
of  Eliiah  ."  Where  is  our  king,  and  creator,  and  bene- 
factor, and  friend  — The  Apostle  answers — '  Jesus 
Christ,  the  same  yesterday,  and  to-day.  and  for  ever 
He  is  not  gone !  Jesus  Christ  is  still  the  same !  He 
sends  a  servant :  he  takes  him  away  again.  He  com- 
municates special  light  to  a  particular  town,  village,  or 
congregation  :  he  withdraws  that  light  again.  What! 
shall  a  man  say  we  are  all  ruined  and  desolate  because 
the  Master  has  called  his  servant  home  !  No !  '  Jesus 
Christ'  remains  '  the  same  yesterday,  and  to-day,  and 
for  ever.' 

He  was  the  same,  yesterday,  to  the  Ancient 
Church.  He  appeared  in  a  human  foi-m  under  that 
dispensation.  He  '  was  with  them  in  the  wilderness.' 
He  was  the  sum  of  their  promises  and  prophecies : 
their  lamb  ;  their  city  of  refuge  ;  their  brazen  ser- 
pent :  these  were  only  so  many  emblems,  pointing  out 
CO  them,  that  in  him  they  had  all  they  wanted  for  time 
and  for  eternity.  '  They  tempted  Christ  in  the  wil- 
derness.'   They  had  water  from  the  rock,  but  'that 


CHRISTIAN  iMIMSTERS. 


261 


rock  was  Christ,'  or  an  image  of  Christ.  So  that  he 
was  'the  same,  yesterday.' 

He  is  the  same,  to-day,  in  the  New-Testament 
Church,  to  us  now  hving.  He  is  here !  He  is  in  this 
church :  for  '  where  two  or  three  are  met  together,' 
he  says,  '  there  am  I.'  A  faithful  minister  can  look 
round  him,  and  see  what  miracles  Jesus  Christ  has 
wrought  in  his  congregation  to-day  :  he  will  mark  one, 
whose  blind  eyes  he  opened :  he  will  mark  another, 
called  from  a  cavern  of  death  and  despair :  he  will 
say,  Behold !  Jesus  Christ  is  working  miracles  to- 
day,'''' If  men  see  him  not  to-day,  and  limit  their 
faith  to  what  he  did  when  on  earth,  it  is  because  their 
eyes  are  darkened.  Let  them  but  come  to  him  : — let 
them  but  trust  him : — let  them  but  take  hold  of  eter- 
nal life  in  him  :  and  then  he  will  say  to  them,  as  he  did 
to  Martha,  '  Said  1  not  unto  thee,  that,  if  thou  would- 
cst  believe,  thou  shouldest  see  the  glory  of  God  P — 
thou  shouldest  sec  that  I  am  here  to-day. 

And  he  is  the  same,  for  ever — to  all  succeeding 
generations — to  the  end  of  the  world.  Wicked  men 
may  plan  to  destroy  his  work ;  wicked  men  may  la- 
bour that  the  sun  shall  not  shine  in  this  place  or  m 
that :  but  they  forget,  among  their  plans,  that  Christ  is 
•  the  Alpha  and  the  Omega  ;'  that '  he  openeth,  and  no 
man  shutteth,  and  shutteth  and  no  man  openeth.'  He 
■  is  the  same  yesterday,  and  to-day,  and  for  ever  ' 

But,  many  will  sit  to  hear  us  expound  Scripture ; 
and  sit  with  satisfaction,  provided  we  do  not  come 
home  to  them.  I  speak,  therefore,  to  such  careless 
PERSONS.  '  We  preach  Christ  crucified  :  to  the  Jews 
a  stumbling-block,  and  to  the  Greeks  foolishness  :'  and 
we  show  you  to-day,  a  monument  of  the  power  of 
Jesus  Christ,  in  the  man  who  has  lately  departed — a 
monument,  which  seems  to  be  inscribed  with  these 
words,  '  That,  in  the  ages  to  come,  he  might  show  the 
exceeding  riches  of  his  grace,  in  his  conversion 
(hrough  Jesus  Christ,' — a  monument  of  grace !  Re- 

vor,.  n.  23* 


262 


SER3I0N  XXVII. 


member,  therefore,  his  testimony ;  he  has  spoken  in 
this  pulpit.  Remember  his  blessed  end ;  and  remem- 
ber your  own  end,  which  will  shortly  come.  He 
could  not  save  you,  though  he  could  preach  to  you :  1 
cannot  save  you,  though  I  can  preach  to  you  :  I  can 
only  say,  with  the  Apostle,  '  Would  to  God,  that  not 
only  thou,  but  all  who  hear  me  this  day,  were  alto- 
gether such  as  I  am !'  I  was  going  to  say,  and  I  will 
not  refrain  from  saying,  that  God  himself  cannot  save 
you,  as  you  are :  I  repeat  it,  God  cannot  save  the  un- 
converted, hardened,  careless,  unbelieving  sinner,  as 
he  is.  He  can  touch  the  heart :  he  can  work  faith  in 
the  heart :  he  can  give  it  sensibility,  and  make  it  a 
heart  of  flesh :  but  a  sinner,  as  he  is !  a  careless 
thoughtless  sinner,  as  he  is,  to  be  saved !  God  must 
deny  himself,  if  he  were  thus  to  save  him.  '  Turn  ye. 
turn  ye,  for  why  will  ye  die  ?'  Either  you  or  God  mus( 
change,  or  you  cannot  live  together.  Remember, 
then,  what  you  have  received.  Remember  the  ne- 
cessity of  having  faith  in  exercise.  Satisfy  not  your- 
selves with  crying  out,  '  Let  me  die  the  death  of  the 
righteous,  and  let  my  last  end  be  hke  his.'  You  must 
be  in  earnest ;  and  must  come,  as  the  prodigal,  back 
to  your  God.  Cry  aloud  to  God,  therefore,  to  turn 
your  hearts,  and  change  your  dispositions  :  and  to  en- 
able you  to  come  smiting  on  your  breast,  like  the  pub- 
lican, and  saying,  '  God  be  merciful  to  mc  a  sinner ! 

My  DEAR  BRETHREN !  '  is  Jcsus  Clirist  the  same, 
yesterday,  and  to  day,  and  for  ever  ?'  I  call  you  to 
pray  earnestly  to  God,  that  a  double  portion  of  the 
spirit  of  those  sen'ants,  whom  he  has  lately  taken  to 
himself,  may  rest  on  those  that  remain.  Coldness, 
torpidity,  and  a  comparative  indifference  prevail  too 
much  among  those,  who  should  be  more  inflamed 
with  the  truths  of  the  Gospel.  Pray,  earnestly,  then, 
that  God  would  raise  up  faithful  labourers  for  his 
vineyard.  The  harvest  i?  ready,  but  the  labourers  are 
few.  ' 


CHRISTIAN  MINISTERS. 


263 


Let  us  remember,  too,  that  we  also  are  called  to  be 
ready ;  for  our  Lord  '  cometh  at  such  a  time  as  wc 
know  not.'  And,  however  a  man  may  put  off  these 
things  while  he  is  in  health,  and  has  a  prospect  of 
living  many  years,  yet  a  dying  time  is  a  very  awful 
lime.  If  a  man  be  not  hardened  and  stupid  indeed, 
his  conscience  will  then  speak  out :  he  will  have  a 
lively  apprehension  of  that  future  state,  into  which  he 
is  going ;  and  to  ineet  which,  he  feels  himself  wholly 
unprepared.  '  Now,'  therefore,  '  is  the  accepted 
time :  now  is  the  day  of  salvation.'  Nothing  more 
clearly  shows  the  subtlety  of  Satan,  and  the  stupidity 
of  the  carnal  heart,  than  our  putting  off  these  things, 
till  it  pleases  God  to  say, '  Thou  fool !  this  night  shall 
thy  soul  be  required  of  thee.'  May  God  grant  that 
we  may  lay  these  things  to  heart !  that,  whenever  our 
Master  comes,  he  may  find  our  loins  girded  and  our 
lamps  biirnine ! 


SERMON  XXVIIl. 


ON  TEMPTATION. 
James,  i,  12. 

Blessed  is  tlie  Man  that  endure th  Temptation  :  for,  when  he  is  tried, 
he  shall  receive  the  Crown  of  Life,  whiclitlie  Lord  hath  promised 
to  them  that  love  Him. 

The  generality  of  mankind  judge  according  to  the 
report  of"  their  senses  ;  and  name  things  good  or  evil, 
as  their  senses  report  them.  They  call,  therefore, 
for  ease,  for  power,  or  for  honour :  and  they  pursue  : 
and  endeavour,  at  any  rate,  to  overtake  them. 

But  the  report  of  God,  who  perfectly  sees  from  the 
beginning  to  the  end  of  things,  speaks  a  contrary  lan- 
guage :  for  he  says,  '  Blessed  is  the  man  that  endureth 
temptation :  for,  when  he  is  tried,  he  shall  receive  a 
crown  of  life.' 

Let  us,  from  the  words  of  the  text, 

1.  Consider  what  it  is  to  endure  temptation. 

2.  Inquire  ey  what  means  temptation  is  en- 
dured. 

3.  View  the  blessed  issue  of  enduring 
temptation  :  '  When  he  is  tried,  he  shall  receive  a 
crown  of  life.' 

1.  Let  us  inquire  WHAT  IT  IS  TO  ENDURE 
TEMPTATION.  '  Blessed  is  the  man  that  endureth 
temptation.' 

In  this  place,  and  in  many  other  parts  of  Scripture, 
temptation  signifies  any  kind  of  trial. 

It  may  arise  from  the  World :  like  that,  which 
Abraham  was  called  to  endure,  when  he  was  directed 


ON  TEMPTATION. 


265 


to  leave  his  country  and  his  father's  house,  and  to 
turn  his  back  on  his  idols ;  to  become  a  stranger  and 
pilgrim,  and  to  wander  as  such  in  the  world ;  to  meet 
with  troubles,  difficulties,  opposition,  and  contradic- 
tion of  sinners.  Or  it  may  be  like  that  of  Moses, 
who,  when  he  had  opportunities  to  rise  greatly  in  life, 
turned  away  his  face  from  all  these  things,  and  became 
an  outcast  in  enduring  '  the  reproach  of  Christ.' 

Our  trial  may  arise  from  the  Flesh ;  which,  as  in 
the  case  of  David,  will  assault  a  man,  and  seem  even 
to  alter  his  very  character;  so  that  he  no  longer 
seems  to  be  either  '  the  man  after  God's  own  heart,' 
or  to  have  any  thing  like  a  heart  for  God  at  all :  he 
has  suffered  under  the  powerful  attacks  of  temptation 
addressed  to  his  senses. 

Or  temptation  may  be  a  trial  immediately  proceed- 
ing from  Satan :  like  that  of  Job ;  who,  in  the  midst 
of  his  ease  and  possessions,  was  given  into  Satan's 
power,  to  be  harassed  and  disturbed  by  him.  This 
was,  indeed,  temptation  and  trial.    So  it  is  said,  that 

•  Satan  provoked  David  to  number  Israel :'  it  was  a 
■severe  and  critical  temptation,  and  David  fell  by  it. 

Sometimes  the  trial  may  come,  for  wise  ends,  from 
God  himself.    Thus  it  is  said  concerning  Abraham, 

•  it  pleased  the  Lord  to  tempt  Abraham,'  i.  e.  to  try 
him :  and  therefore  he  said,  '  Take  now  thy  son,  thy 
only  son  Isaac,  whom  thou  lovest,  and  offer  him  up 
for  a  burnt-offering.'  Here  the  trial,  or  temptation, 
proceeded  immediately  from  God  himself,  as  the  trial 
of  Abraham's  faith  and  obedience. 

But,  says  the  Apostle,  '  Blessed  is  the  man  that  en- 
dureth  temptation,'  of  whatever  kind  it  be  :  whether 
from  the  world  or  from  the  flesh,  or  from  Satan,  or 
more  immediately  sent  of  God  :  '  Blessed  is  the  man, 
that  endureth  temptation.' 

But  what  is  meant  by  enduring  temptation  ? 

Enduring  temptation  is  very  contrary  to  the  case 
of  which  we  have  been  hearing  this  morning :  Balaam 


266 


SERMOiN  XX\  III. 


sought  to  run  into  temptation  :  he  seems,  if  I  may  ht 
allowed  the  expression,  to  have  even  te'azed  God  to 
let  him  go  to  the  court  of  Balak,  that  he  might  be  pro- 
moted to  honour.  Saul,  when  in 'trouble,  would  seek 
relief  from  a  witch  :  this  is  running  into  temptation. 

Enduring  temptation  is  very  diti'erent,  too,  from 
merely  meeting  with  it,  like  Moses  in  the  wilderness. 
The  absence  of  Moses  left  the  people  to  their  own  in- 
ventions ;  and,  with  their  inventions,  they  proceeded 
so  far  as  to  set  up  a  golden  calf,  and  to  call  that  the 
God  which  had  brought  them  out  of  Egypt. 

It  is  to  be  distinguished,  also,  from  a  single  resis- 
tance. A  man  rouses  his  mind ;  and  is  enabled,  with 
resolution,  to  say — "  No  !  this  is  an  attack  on  my  faith, 
virtue,  and  happiness.  1  will  not  go  !" — when,  per- 
haps, on  the  very  next  temptation,  he  falls. 

But '  the  man  that  endureth  temptation,'  is  the  man, 
who  has  learnt  and  is  enabled  to  bear  up  under  it  : 
or,  as  we  sometimes  express  ourselves,  he  will  wea- 
ther it.  He  expects  it ;  and.  when  it  comes  on  him,  he 
is  not  surprised.  He  knows  that  it  is  impossible  to 
give  place  to  it.  in  any  degreee  with  safety  :  he  re- 
solves, therefore,  by  the  help  of  God,  to  make  a  stand : 
and  though  the  current  may  run  strong  against  him, 
yet  he  certainly  knows,  that  he  must  either  go  against 
the  current,  or  be  carried  away  and  perish  forever. 

Such  a  man  was  Enoch  ;  who  in  the  midst  of  a  wick- 
ed and  perverse  world,  is  represented  as  walking  with 
God  ;  a  man  of  God ;  ever  watchful  on  the  Lord's 
side,  and  against  the  dangerous  attacks  of  an  enemy. 

Such  a  character  was  Noah,  '  being  warned  of  God, 
and  moved  with  fear,  he  prepared  an  ark  ;'  and  did 
not  stand  to  consider  what  other  men  would  say.  He 
might  hear  some  call  him  an  enthusiast;  others  sup- 
pose him  to  be  mad,  and  that  his  dreaming  of  a  de- 
luge was  the  greatest  proof  of  his  madness.  But  he 
made  a  stand,  and  went  on  :  he  endured  the  tempta- 
tion. 

Thus  did  Abraham,  Isaac,  and  Jacob. 


ON  TEMPTATION. 


267 


Joseph,  in  particular,  endured  temptations,  not 
only  in  the  enmity  and  cruelty  of  his  brethren,  but  in 
'.eproach  and  suflTerings  arising  from  his  integrity. 
He  was  thrown  into  prison  ;  not  for  a  day,  nor  a  year : 
but  he  must  go  on  enduring  one  of  the  darkest  dis- 
pensations that  ever  man  had  to  endure ;  yet  he  bore 
it  patiently,  and,  as  it  is  said  of  Moses,  'he  endured, 
as  seeing  him  who  is  invisible.  Still,  he  hung  on  the 
truth  of  God.  Still  he  referred  his  cause  to  him.  He 
seemed  to  say,  with  St.  Paul, '  None  of  these  things 
move  me  :  neither  count  I  my  life  dear  unto  myself.' 

It  was  in  the  same  spirit  that  we  find  Daniel  and  the 
three  children  enduring  and  bearing  up  under  their 
peculiar  trials,  in  the  furnace  and  the  den  of  lions. 

It  was  this  that  left  the  Apostles,  in  the  midst  of  op- 
position, as  sheep  among  wolves.  'We  are  troubled," 
says  St.  Paul,  in  the  fourth  chapter  of  the  Second 
Epistle  to  the  Corinthians,  '  we  are  troubled  on 
every  side,  yet  not  distressed  :  we  are  perplexed,  but 
not  in  despair ;  persecuted,  but  not  forsaken  :  cast 
down,  but  not  destroyed.'  How  is  this  ?  How  did 
they  weather  this  trial  ?  The  latter  part  of  the  chap- 
ter puts  us  in  possession  of  their  secret.  '  For  which 
cause  we  faint  not :  but,  though  our  outward  man 
perish,  yet  the  inward  man  is  renewed  day  by  day. 
For  our  light  affliction,  which  is  but  for  a  moment, 
worketh  for  us  a  far  more  exceeding  and  eternal  weight 
of  glory.'  "  We  are  called,"  as  if  they  had  said,  to  "  en- 
dure; but  it  is  but  for  a  moment  :  it  is,  comparatively 
light  affliction  ;  while  we  look  not  at  the  things  which 
we  seen,  but  at  the  things  which  are  not  seen  :  for  the 
things  which  are  seen  are  temporal ;  but  the  things 
which  are  not  seen  are  eternal.'  " 

Brethren!  mark  here  a  grand  distinction  between  a 
Christian  and  a  man  of  the  world.  The  man  of  the 
world  looks  only  at  '  the  things  which  are  seen  :'  he  is 
overcome  by  them  :  they  overwhelm  him  :  they  infat- 
uate him  :  he  cannot  endure  them:  he  has  no  true  wis- 


268 


SERMON  XXVIII. 


dom,  no  right  understanding,  no  spirituality.  But,  says 
the  Apostle, '  We  look  not  at  the  things  which  are  seen 
for  these  we  feel  to  be  temporal  and  momentary  :  but 
those  '  which  are  not  seen,'  we  know  to  be  durable 
and  eternal. 

In  this  way.  Brethren !  I  would  answer  the  ques- 
tion, "  What  is  it  to  endure  temptation  ?"  It  is  thus, 
that  '  the  righteous  holds  on  his  way ;  and  he,  that 
hath  clean  hands,  waxeth  stronger  and  stronger.'  It 
is  thus,  that  he  becomes  'a  stranger  and  pilgrim  upon 
earth.' 

II.  But  I  anticipate  what  I  was  secondly  to  speak 
on,  namely,  BY  WHAT  MEANS  TEMPTATION 
IS  ENDURED. 

By  what  means  is  tempation  endured  by  the  man 
who  is  here  spoken  of  as  blessed  ?  for  a  cause  must 
be  equal  to  its  efiect :  and,  therefore,  no  sudden  starts 
of  enthusiasm,  no  momentary  impressions,  however 
warm,  w  ill  be  adequate  to  this  trial.  For,  to  endure 
temptation,  a  man  must  be  prepared  for  continual 
difficulty  :  it  is  to-morrow's  business,  as  well  as  that 
of  to-day. 

Temptation  is  not  endured  by  one  vice  overcoming 
and  casting  out  another.  It  is  not,  for  instance,  the 
victory  of  pride  over  lust :  but  faith  enables  a  man  to 
make  his  stand  '  in  the  midst  of  a  crooked  and  perverse 
generation ;'  and  to  '  shine  as  a  light  in  the  world,' 
having  *  a  hope  full  of  immortality.' 

You  will  see  an  account  of  this  "  royal  way,"  as  it 
has  been  called,  in  the  xith  chapter  of  the  Epistle  to 
the  Hebrews.  There  we  see  a  procession  of  charac- 
ters— determined  men — spiritual  heroes  ;  who,  by 
faith,  and  hope,  and  love,  endured  and  suffered ;  feel- 
ing the  grace  of  God  which  was  given  them  adequate 
to  the  trial. 

The  case  of  St.  Paul  himself,  is  very  expressly 
related.  And  there  is,  doubtless,  great  wisdom  in  this 
particular  relation,  because  it  puts  us  into  full  posses- 


ON  TEMPTATION. 


269 


sion  of  the  method  by  which  a  Christian  is  enabled, 
through  Hfe,  to  endure  temptation.  The  case  is 
related  in  the  xiith  chapter  of  St.  Paul's  Second 
Epistle  to  the  Corinthians.  '  There  was  given  to  me,' 
says  the  Apostle,  '  a  thorn  in  the  flesh,  the  messenger 
of  Satan  to  butfct  me.'  And,  so  sharp  was  the  thorn, 
and  so  tormenting  the  buffeting,  that,  he  adds, '  for  this 
thing  I  besought  the  Lord  thrice,  that  it  might  depart 
from  me.  And  he  said  unto  me,  My  grace  is  sufficient 
for  thee.'  As  though  he  had  said,  "  You  must  endure 
the  temptation  :  however  painful,  however  incessant, 
yet  you  must  endure.  '  Blessed  is  the  man,  that  en- 
dureth  temptation  ;'  not  the  man,  that  is  delivered  from 
all  temptation.  You  must  endure  :  but,  '  my  grace  is 
sufficient  for  thee  :'  I  can  enable  thee  to  endure  it :  1 
can  send  a  supply  of  strength :  I  can  '  uphold  with 
(he  right-hand  of  my  righteousness.'  And,  besides,  I 
can  teach  you  this  grand  truth,  that  '  my  strength  is 
made  perfect  in  your  weakness  :'  when  you  are  most 
feeble  and  inadequate,  when  patience  seems  to  be 
almost  worn  out,  at  that  time  it  is  that  I  will  step  in  to 
-succour  you,  to  hold  you  up,  and  enable  you  to  en- 
dure." The  Apostle  was  so  instructed  on  this  point, 
that  he  adds,  '  I  take  pleasure  in  infirmities'  and  're- 
proaches :'  now  I  want  for  nothing :  the  trial  is  come, 
and  it  is  the  dispensation  and  will  of  God. 

Of  Christ  himself,  our  great  example  and  forerun- 
ner, it  is  said,  '  for  the  joy  that  was  set  before  him,'  he 
"endured  the  cross,  despising  the  shame:  and  is  set 
down  at  the  right-hand  of  the  throne  of  God.' 

'  Let  us,'  therefore,  says  the  Apostle,  '  run  with  pa- 
tience the  race  set  before  us,  LOOKING  unto  jesus.' 
'  This,'  says  St.  John,  '  is  the  victory  that  overcometh 
the  world,  even  our  faith' — our  being  enabled  to 
look  for  the  strength  of  Christ  to  be  made  perfisct  in 
our  weakness,  and  to  lay  hold  on  him  the  rock  of 
ages.  '  Which  hope,'  says  St.  Paul,  '  we  have  as  an 
anchor  of  the  soul :'  does  the  sailor,  when  his  ship  i« 

VOL.  11.  ^24 


270 


SERMON  XXVIII. 


tossed  with  fierce  winds,  and  he  fears  every  moment 
that  it  will  be  dashed  in  pieces,  throw  out  his  anchor, 
and  hold  fast  thereby,  that  the  vessel  may  be  able  to 
endure  the  power  and  fierceness  of  the  tempest  ?  so, 
says  the  Apostle,  we  have  Hope,  '  which  we  have  as 
an  anchor  of  the  soul.' 

David  was  despised  and  insulted  by  men,  who 
spake  of  stoning  him  in  his  calamity ;  while  his  army 
was  scattered,  with  the  loss  of  their  substance,  their 
wives,  and  children.  This  was  a  severe  trial :  thii- 
was  a  strong  temptation  :  what  was  David  to  do  /  even 
what  he  did  :  he  '  encouraged  himself  in  the  Lord  hi* 
God  he  referred  the  matter  to  him  ;  and  in  so  do- 
ing, he  was  enabled  to  endure. 

" '  On  the  left-hand,'  says  Job,  '  where  he  doth 
work,  I  cannot  behold  him  :  he  hideth  himself  on  the 
right-hand,  that  I  cannot  see  him.'  It  is  a  severe 
trial ;  and  I  am  called  to  weather  it  in  the  dark  :  but. 
God  knoweth  his  own  way.  Here,  therefore.  I  rest : 
and,  on  this  principle,  1  endure:  and  'when  he  hath 
tried  me,  I  shall  come  forth  as  gold.' " 

There  is  another  principle  also,  on  which  a  Chris- 
tian proceeds,  while  he  endures  temptation.  The 
LOVE  OF  CHRIST,  says  the  Apostle,  '  constraineth  us.' 
And  you  will  find  in  the  text,  that,  when  the  trial  of 
the  Christian  is  over,  "  he  shall  receive  the  crown  of 
life,  which  the  Lord  hath  promised  to  them  that  love 
him.' 

Let  me  caution  you,  my  young  friends,  not  to  stum- 
ble because  you  hear  a  sceptic  treating  spiritual  and 
experimental  things  Avith  contempt.  Is  it  not  natural, 
that  one  who  knows  nothing  of  a  subject  should  rea- 
son absurdly  when  he  talks  on  that  subject  ? 

But  there  is  a  'love  of  God  shed  abroad  in  the 
heart.'  of  which  the  Scripture  expressly  speaks. 
This  principle  is  stronger  than  death,  or  there  never 
would  have  been  a  martyr :  and  we  know,  from  the  his- 
tory of  our  own  country,  that,  when  martyrs  have  been 


ON  TEMPTATION. 


271 


tried  to  the  utmost,  they  have  been  borne  up  under  the 
temptation  :  the  love  of  Christ  constrained  them,  and 
ihey  died  martyrs  for  him  ;  for  the  word  martyr  signi- 
fies a  t«j<nes5.  We,  brethren!  are  not  called  to  die 
martyrs ;  but  we  are  called  to  live  martyrs :  and  in 
proportion  as  we  endure,  and  bear  up  under  the  trials 
of  life,  so  far  we  are  martyrs  for  Jesus  Christ. 

Thus  then  is  God's  work  on  the  soul  of  man,  car- 
ried on  by  Faith,  and  Hope,  and  Love.  And  it  is  un- 
conquerable :  •  For,'  says  the  Apostle,  '  1  am  persuaded 
that  neither  death,  nor  life,  nor  angels,  nor  principa- 
lities, nor  powers,  nor  things  present,  nor  things  to 
come,  nor  height,  nor  depth,  nor  any  other  creature' 
— nor  any  sort  of  temptation,  which  we  may  be  call- 
ed to  endure — 'shall  be  able  to  separate  us  from  the 
love  of  God,  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord — for, 
in  all  these  things  we  are  more  than  conquerors, 
through  him  that  loved  us.' 

III.  I  proposed  to  consider  the  BLESSED  EF- 
FECT OF  THUS  ENDURING  TEMPTATION. 
'  Blessed  is  the  man  that  endureth  temptation  :  for, 
when  he  is  tried,  he  shall  receive  the  crown  of  life, 
which  the  Lord  hath  promised  to  them  that  love  him.' 

A  moral  philosopher  might  mention  great  advan- 
tages of  enduring  temptation,  even  in  the  present  life  : 
he  might  show  you  how  much  evil  the  man  escapes, 
who  is  enabled,  by  self-denial  and  serious  considera- 
tion, to  resist  the  temptations  that  will  attack  him  con- 
tinually ;  and  how  necessary  it  is  for  him  to  bear  up. 
and  not  to  sink  when  heavy  afflictions  surround  him. 
He  might  enlarge  on  the  peace  of  conscience  and  the 
self-satisfaction,  the  self-conquest  and  command, 
which  such  a  man  will  enjoy.  But  the  Apostle  passes 
by  all  inferior  considerations  ;  and  comes,  at  once,  to 
the  highest :  for  '  he  shall  receive,'  says  he,  '  the 
crown  of  life:'  besides  these  other  advantages,  'he 
«hall  receive  the  crown  of  life.  Avhich  the  Lord  hath 


272 


promised  to  them  that  love  him.'  The  conflict  is  but 
for  a  moment :  the  crown  is  to  be  eternal. 

There  is  a  'crown  of  ambition,'  for  which  a  man 
who  was  far  too  grave  to  make  such  an  experiment,  1 
mean  Julius  Caesar,  would  even  sacrifice  his  life. 
There  is  a  '  crown  of  vanity,'  for  which  so  eminent  a 
person  as  Cicero  would  sacrifice  his  very  character, 
that  the  historian  of  the  times  might  represent  him  as 
the  first  orator  in  the  world.  There  is  a  '  crown  of 
I'oses,'  for  which  the  voluptuary  is  willing  to  sacrifice 
every  thing ;  and  which  ends,  as  he  always  finds,  in  a 
■  crown  of  thorns.' 

But  it  is  a  '  crown  of  life,'  of  which  the  Apostle 
speaks.  Some  may  say,  that  a  Christian  should  not 
look  for  rewards  :  but  God  has  promised  rewards ;  and 
has  told  us,  that  one  of  his  most  eminent  servants 
made  a  noble  stand,  and  '  endured  as  seeing  him  who 
is  invisible  .  for  he  had  respect  unto  the  recompense 
of  the  reward ;'  not  a  reward  of  merit,  but  of  grace. 
The  Apostle  plainly  intimates  that  they  endured,  by 
considering  that  the  light  affliction  which  lasted  but 
for  a  moment,  '  worked  out  a  far  more  exceeding  and 
eternal  weight  of  glory.' 

We,  therefore,  proceed  on  the  apostolical  practice, 
in  preaching  the  word  of  God,  when  we  apply  to  the 
hopes  of  men,  in  order  to  overcome  their  fears  ;  and 
tell  them  to  look  forward  to  a  crown  of  life,  that  they 
may  be  faithful  unto  death. 

In  conclusion,  there  are  two  CAUTIONS,  which  I 
will  mention  on  this  subject. 

You  see  it  expressly  asserted,  that  the  man  is  '  bless- 
ed that  endureth  temptation  :'  and,  in  the  second 
verse,  the  Apostle  says,  '  My  brethren,  count  it  all 
joy,  when  ye  fall  into  divers  temptations,'  or  trials : 
consider  it  as  a  token  or  evidence  that  you  are  nol 
sweeping  away  with  the  current  of  this  wicked  world. 
Hut  bearing  up  against  its  oppositions.    Since,  there- 


273 


lore,  this  is  the  royal  way — no  cross,  no  crown — 1 
would  admonish  you, 

1.  Not  to  STUMBLE  at  the  dispensation: 

2.  Not  to  FEAR  it,  while  you  are  cleaving  to  God,  to 
give  you  his  grace,  as  alone  sufficient  for  you. 

1.  Stumble  not  at  the  dispensation  of  trial. 

Say  not,  "  Why  am  I  thus  /  Why  am  I  liable  to 
meet  with  such  things  .''  Why  has  God  permitted  it 
Nay,  says  St.  Peter,  '  Think  it  not  strange  concerning 
the  fiery  trial,  which  is  to  try  you,  as  though  some 
strange  thing  happened  unto  you.'  There  are  greaf 
differences  in  the  circumstances  of  a  Christian,  but 
there  is  one  thing  common  to  them  all : — they  are  all 
fried :  they  are  all  brought  into  the  school  of  experi- 
ence. It  is  said  of  the  blessed,  in  the  viith  chapter  of 
the  Revelation,  '  These  are  they,  which  came  out  of 
great  tribulation:'  they  were  all  tried:  they  were  all 
tempted.  The  refiner  does  not  put  his  gold  into  the 
furnace,  because  he  values  it  less  than  the  dross  which 
lies  on  one  side  ;  but,  because  he  values  it,  he  puts  it 
in,  in  order  to  purify  it. 

"  God,"  says  an  old  writer,  "  had  one  Son  without 
sin ;  but  never  had  one  without  sorrow,  trial,  and 
temptation  :"  for  even  Christ  himself  was  '  made  per- 
fect through  suffering' — qualified  as  a  mediator  and 
high-priest ;  that  he  might  know  how  to  sympathize 
with  and  to  succour  those  that  are  tempted,  having 
been  himself  severely  tried. 

That  the  faithful  people  of  God  become  soldiers, 
lighting  under  his  banner ;  that  they  are  made  willing 
to  endure,  and  to  press  forward  to  the  prize;  this  is 
an  evidence  and  seal  which  he  sets  upon  them.  We 
find  our  Lord,  therefore,  saying,  '  Simon,  son  of 
Jonas,  lovest  thou  me  V  Then — "  Feed  my  sheep. 
Take  your  lot  with  them.  Like  Moses,  prefer  the 
reproach  of  Christ  to  all  the  offers  of  the  world." 

Whenever,  then,  you  are  called  to  trial  and  tempt a- 

VOT,.    TI.  24* 


•274 


SERMON  XXMll. 


tion,  think  of  our  Lord's  question,  'Simon,  lovest 
thou  me  ?'  It  is  a  close  question  put  to  us.  Do  yon 
love  Jesus  Christ  ?  Are  vou  willing  to  undergo  shami 
for  him,  and  to  fight  his  battles  ?  Are  3  ou  willing  tc> 
bear  the  name  of  an  enthusiast,  of  a  fanatic,  of  a.bigot. 
for  his  sake  ?  Are  you  willing  to  bear,  for  him,  such 
treatment  from  a  deluded  world  !  Then  happy  are  ye. 
little  flock  !  you  thus  honour  God,  and  he  will  honour 
you.  by  putting  you  in  possession,  after  your  sufferings, 
of  his  kingdom  of  bliss  and  glory.  Are  you  willing 
to  count  the  cost  of  religion  — for  religion  will  cosi 
you  something,  though  irreligion  will  cost  you  infi- 
nitely more. 

Seriously  consider,  therefore,  that  this  is  the  royal 
way  in  which  all  the  children  of  God  must  walk. 
But, 

2.  Fear  not,  because  you  have  such  a  path  to  pass : 
tor  remember  that  '  Blessed  is  the  man' — not  that  es- 
capes, but — '  that  endureth  temptation.' 

•  Thou,  therefore,  my  son.'  says  St.  Paul  to  Timothy. 
•  be  strong  in  the  grace  that  is  in  Christ  Jesus — endure 
hardness,  as  a  good  soldier  of  Jesus  Christ — I  there- 
fore endure  all  things  for  the  elect's  sake — 1  suffei 
trouble  as  an  evil  doer,  even  unto  bonds ;  but  the 
word  of  God  is  not  bound.  But  it  is  a  faithful  saying : 
for  if  we  be  dead  with  him,  we  shall  also  live  witli 
him:  if  we  suffer,  we  shall  also  reign  with  him:"  but. 
■  if  we  deny  him,  he  also  will  deny  us.' 

Fear  not  while  in  God's  hand.  He  brought  his  peo- 
ple to  the  Red  Sea :  he  subjected  them  there  to  a  se- 
vere trial :  their  way  seemed  ironed  up,  there  enemie? 
close  behind  them,  and  a  gloomy  prospect  before  ;  bui 
his  grace  was  sufficient  for  them  :  he  spake,  and  open- 
ed a  path  through  the  waters.  He  had  taught  his  ser- 
vant Jehosaphat  to  say.  when  a  multitude  of  enemie> 
came  against  him.  "  O  our  God — we  have  no  might 
against  this  great  companv — but  our  eves  arc  upon 
thee!" 


ON  TEMPT ATIOiN. 


Often,  indeed,  will  evil  thoughts  harass  us :  often 
would  the  enemy  of  our  souls  sink  us  into  despair, 
were  we  not  supported  by  an  almighty  arm :  often 
shall  we  have  to  bear  shocks  so  repugnant  to  our  feel- 
ings, that  we  shall  be  ready  to  call  in  question,  whether 
we  are  Christians.  But,  let  us  ever  remember,  thai 
•  there  hath  no  temptation  taken  us,  but  such  as 
is  common  to  man :  but  God  is  faithful,  who  will  not 
suffer  us  to  be  tempted  above  that  we  are  able  ;  but 
will,  with  the  temptation,  also  make  a  way  to  escape.' 
We  can  no  more  prevent  these  things  happening  to  us, 
than  we  can  prevent  the  revel  in  the  streets,  that  dis- 
turbs us  and  our  families  at  night. 

If  you  say  then,  "  How  shall  I  endure  in  the  midst 
of  these  trials  ?"  I  answer,  "  Not  by  your  being  ena- 
bled to  mitigate  your  sufferings ;  but  by  lying  under 
ihe  pressure,  till  it  please  God  to  make  it  lighter.  St. 
Paul  was  still  to  endure,  but  the  grace  of  God  was 
promised  under  his  burden. 

One  of  the  English  Martyrs  was  so  alarmed  at  the 
thoughts  of  his  suffering  on  the  morrow  in  the  midst 
of  a  fire,  that  it  seemed  to  him  an  impossibility  that  he 
should  go  through  the  conflict ;  and,  in  order  to  try 
the  experiment,  he  put  his  finger  into  the  flame  of  the 
candle,  but  found  he  could  not  endure  it :  and,  no  won- 
der! for  that  was  not  his  call:  his  dispensation  did 
not  require  that  he  should  voluntarily  bring  himselt 
into  pain,  and  much  less  that  he  should  do  it  in  a  spirit 
of  unbelief.  But,  though  he  could  not  endure,  in  his 
own  strength,  even  his  finger  in  the  flame :  yet,  the 
next  day,  he  could  give  up,  in  the  strength  of  God,  liis 
whole  body  to  the  fire  ;  and,  with  heroical  constancy 
and  Christian  fortitude,  could  cheerfully  resign  liis 
fife  in  the  flames :  for,  '  as  our  day  is,  so  shall  oui 
strength  be.' 

In  the  world,  we  are  taught  to  expect  tribulation 
•and  temptation  from  every  quarter ;  though  it  \\-i  11  he 


276 


our  Christian  duty,  as  well  as  prudence,  to  avoid  them 
whenever  we  can.  Let  us  beware  of  imitating  the 
martyr,  in  attempting  to  thrust  our  finger  into  the 
flame  :  but,  to  whatever  degree  of  suffering  God  calls 
us,  it  is  enough  that  he  is  faitliful  to  his  promise,  and 
will  perform  it. 

May  this  be  verified  in  the  experience  of  us  all ! 


SERMON  XXIX. 


I'ATIENCE  THE  CHILD  OF  FAITH,  Ax\D  PARENT  01 
SUCCESS. 

James,  v,  7,  8.  . 

Be  patient,  therefore,  brethren,  unto  the  coming  of  the  Lord  :  be- 
hold the  husbandman  waiteth  for  the  precious  fruit  of  the  earth, 
and  hath  long  patience  for  it,  until  he  receive  the  early  and  latter 
rain.  Be  ye  also  patient :  stablish  your  hearts  :  for  the  coming  ol 
the  Lord  draweth  nigh. 

There  is  a  striking  difference  between  Heathen  and 
Christian  virtues.  The  Heathen  endeavoured  to  over- 
come by  silence,  by  courage,  by  fortitude,  and  often  by 
revenge  :  the  Christian  looks  for  victory  by  faith  and 
patience ;  by  looking  at  that  which  is  invisible  to  an 
eye  of  sense ;  by  becoming  '  a  follower  of  them,  who. 
through  faith  and  patience,  inherit  the  promises.'  In 
this  way  he  hopes  to  succeed  ;  and,  in  this  way,  he  will 
succeed,  because  it  is  God's  way. 

The  Christian  must  rise,  where  every  man  beside 
must  fall.  We  find,  therefore,  the  Apostle  saying,  in 
the  beginning  of  this  chapter, '  Go  to  now,  ye  rich  men, 
weep  and  howl  for  your  miseries,  that  shall  come  upon 
you.'  You  must  fall.  A  time  is  coming,  when  your 
riches  shall  profit  you  nothing.  The  Christian  shall 
take  his  riches  with  him :  he  cannot  be  robbed  of  his 
riches ;  for  they  are  spiritual  and  durable,  and  death 
cannot  touch  them. 

But,  says  the  Apostle,  '  Your  riches  are  corrupted, 
and  your  garments  moth-eaten  :'  your  'gold  and  sil- 
ver is  cankered.'  Nor  is  that  the  worst  part  of  your 
'■ase  :  '  the  rust  of  them  shall  be  a  witness  against  you. 


278 


SERMON  XXIX. 


and  shall  eat  your  flesh  as  it  were  fire.  Ye  have 
heaped  treasure  together  for  the  last  days.  Behold  ! 
the  hire  of  the  labourers  which  have  reaped  down 
your  fields,  which  is  of  you  kept  back  by  fraud, 
crieth ;  and  the  cries  of  them,  which  have  reaped; 
are  entered  into  the  ears  of  the  Lord  of  Sabaoth. 
Ye  have  lived  in  pleasure  on  the  earth,  and  been 
wanton:  ye  have  nourished  your  hearts,  as  in  a  da) 
of  slaughter.  Ye  have  condemned  and  killed  the 
just,  and  he  doth  not  resist  you.' 

What ! — Is  the  earth  given  into  the  hands  of  these 
wicked  men  ? — Is  the  just  man  but  as  a  sheep  pre- 
pared for  the  slaughter  ? — It  may  be  so — It  may  be 
so  for  a  day  :  but,  says  the  Apostle,  '  Be  patient, 
therefore.  Brethren  !  unto  the  coming  of  the  Lord  : 
suffer,  with  long  patience,'  as  it  reads  in  the  margin. 
Leave  the  matter  to  God.  It  is  enough  that  he  has 
promised  to  be  your  friend.  It  is  enough  for  you  to 
know,  that,  as  the  husbandman  waiteth  for  the  fruits 
of  the  harvest  until  he  receives  them,  so  must  you 
wait  for  your  harvest.  Your  harvest  draweth  nigh, 
when  you  shall  reap  the  fruit  of  your  faith  :  therefore 
be  patient ;  establish  your  hearts  :  '  for  the  coming  of 
the  Lord  draweth  nigh.' 

From  this  Scripture,  I  shall  discourse  on  the  follow- 
ing Proposition : 

Christian  patience  is  the  child  of  faith 

AND   the   parent   OF  SUCCESS. 

I.  CHRISTIAN  PATIENCE  IS  THE  CHILD 
OF  FAITH. 

The  Christian  is  not  an  insensible,  thoughtless,  or 
enthusiastic  character.  He  has  an  object  before  him 
— 'the  coming  of  the  Lord.'  He  first  beheves,  then 
he  waits. 

He  considers,  first,  that  his  forefathers  in  the  faith 
waited  a  long  time  for  the  coming  of  Christ  accord- 
ing to  the  flesh.  '  Abraham  rejoiced,'  Christ  said,  '  to 
^ee  my  day :  and  he  saw  it'  by  faith,  long  before 


PATIENCE  THE  CHILD  OF  FAITH,  &c.  279 


Christ  came ;  he  satisfied  himself  that  God  could  not 
lie,  and  this  established  his  heart. 

Now  one  of  the  spiritual  children  of  Abraham, 
walking  in  the  faith  of  his  father,  considers  that  this 
promise  has  been  fulfilled — that 'the  desire  of  all 
nations'  has  appeared,  according  to  the  promise,  and 
exactly  at  the  predicted  time. 

He  says,  therefore,  to  himself,  "  When  he  came, 
what  has  he  left  on  record  concerning  his  coming 
again,  and  the  consequences  of  that  second  coming? 
— He  said,  that  all  nations  shall  be  gathered  before 
him  ;  that  he  will  separate  them  one  from  another  as 
a  shepherd  divideth  his  sheep  from  the  goats ;  and 
that  he  will  set  the  sheep  on  his  right  hand,  but  the 
goats  on  his  left :  that  he  will  order  his  angels  to 
gather  up  the  tares  and  burn  them,  but  to  lodge  the 
wheat  safely  in  his  garner. 

"  What  did  he  do,  when  he  came  ? — He  proved 
that  he  was  the  Faithful,  the  Just,  the  True  and  the 
Almighty. 

"What  promise,  what  expectation  did  he  hold 
forth  of  his  coming  again  ? — He  said,  '  Be  patient : 
follow  me;  and  where  I  am,  there  shall  also  my  ser- 
vant be — I  am  the  light  of  the  world  :  he,  that  fol- 
loweth  me,  shall  not  walk  in  darkness,  but  shall  have 
the  light  of  life.'  Yours  is  a  reversion  :  can  you 
trust  me?  Can  you  honour  me  ?  Can  you  glorify  mo 
before  men  ?  Can  you  wait  for  my  coming ;  and  take 
up  that  religion  which  consists  of  faith,  and  patience, 
and  obedience  ?  Are  you  one  of  those  who  are  poor 
in  spirit  ?  then  you  shall  certainly  have  the  kingdom 
which  I  have  promised." 

When  the  Holy  Spirit  of  God  works  a  correspond- 
ent disposition  to  this  proposal  in  the  hearts  of  Chris- 
tians, they  are  satisfied  with  the  plan,  with  their  Mas- 
ter, and  with  his  wages. 

What  shall  1  say  ?  A  Christian  is  as  a  wise  virgin. 
in  a  waiting  posture.    A  Christian  rests  on  a  rock  : 


280 


SERMON  XXIX. 


"Here,"  says  he,  "will  I  stand!  Tell  me  not  what 
men  say  of  me.  Let  them  call  me  fool !  Let  them 
call  me  madman  !  I  am  building  on  a  rock :  I  will, 
therefore,  by  faith  and  patience,  now  establish  my 
heart ;  for  surely  '  the  coming  of  the  Lord  draweth 
nigh.' " 

Patience,  then,  as  you  see,  is  the  Child  of  Faith. 
It  is  not  obstinacy  :  it  is  not  stupidity  :  it  is  not  en- 
thusiasm :  it  is  not  the  pride  of  the  soul :  but  it  is  the 
Living  Martyr,  trusting  to  the  word  and  faithfulness  of 
his  Lord  ;  believing  that,  in  a  very  little  time,  he 
shall  enter  into  his  rest,  and  that  it  shall  soon  be  said 
of  him,  '  Blessed  are  the  dead  which  die  in  the  Lord, 
for  they  rest  from  their  labours.' 

II.  But,  while  Patience  is  the  Child  of  Faith,  it  is. 
at  the  same  time,  the  PARENT  OF  SUCCESS. 

The  patient  man  is  in  the  way  to  conquer.  This 
is  illustrated  variously  in  this  chapter. 

When  the  husbandman  has  laboured  in  his  field 
;ind  sown  his  seed,  he  cannot  at  once  raise  bread. 
What  avails  his  haste?  What  avails  his  fretting? 
He  may  fret  because  the  frost  sets  in  :  he  may  fret, 
because  there  seems  to  him  to  be  too  much  rain  :  but 
how  will  his  fretting  benefit  him  ?  Will  his  impatience 
alter  the  the  state  of  the  ground  ?  will  it  change  the 
weather?  will  it  forward  the  harvest  ?  His  impatience 
can  do  no  good ;  but  his  patience  can  : — his  trusting 
of  God,  and  quieting  of  himself  to  wait  for  the  ap- 
pointed seasons,  sleeping  and  rising,  and  rising  and 
sleeping,  while  the  corn  is  growing  he  knows  not  how. 
Thus  'the  husbandman  waiteth  for  the  precious  fruit 
of  the  earth,  and  hath  long  patience  for  it,  until  he 
receives  the  early  and  latter  rain:'  that  is,  he  comes 
into  the  order  of  God :  he  has  patience  with  God : 
he  goes  on,  trusting  that,  in  God's  way,  he  shall  obtain 
the  promised  harvest.  "  Now,  therefore,"  as  if  the 
Apostle  had  raid,  "  Look  at  him.    You  must  hope 


PATIENCE  THE  CHILD  OF  FAITH,  kc.  281 


for  success  in  the  same  way.  Does  he  use  means  ? 
So  must  you  ;  and  you  must  have  patience  like  him." 

The  Apostle  states  another  case.  '  Take,  my 
brethren,  the  prophets,  who  have  spoken  in  the  name 
of  the  Lord,  for  an  example  of  suffering  affliction  and 
of  patience.'  Consider  how  the  world  has  treated 
the  greatest  and  best  of  men — men,  who  have  lived 
on  purpose,  as  it  were,  to  befriend  the  world !  Noah 
was  a  long  time  building  the  ark,  for  the  safety  of  his 
house ;  while  an  ungodly  world  were  scorning  and 
reviling  him  :  but  he  patiently  worked  on,  and  he  and 
his  house  were  saved.  Jacob  was  a  man  of  sorrows  : 
but,  when  dying,  he  says,  '  I  have  waited  for  thy  salva- 
tion, O  Lord  ;'  plainly  implying  that  he  had  not  waited 
in  vain.  Look  at  Moses,  at  Jeremiah,  at  Daniel : 
take  them  for  an  example  of  faith  and  patience ;  and 
for  proofs  that  Patience  is  the  Parent  of  Success.  By 
faith  and  patience  they  overcame  the  world,  '  with  its 
affections  and  lusts and  consider,  in  running  over 
the  history  of  the  Prophets  and  Apostles,  that  they 
never  lost  ground,  till  they  lost  their  patience  :  if  Mo- 
ses failed  at  Massah  and  Meribah,  it  was  when  he  had 
lost  his  patience :  if  Elijah,  that  great  champion  of 
Israel,  is  brought  into  a  mean  and  contemptible  predi- 
cament, it  was  when  he  had  lost  his  patience  ;  flying 
from  the  face  of  a  woman  ;  if  we  hear  Jeremiah  talk- 
ing of  being  deceived, — '  O  Lord,  thou  hast  deceived 
me' — it  was  when  he  had  lost  his  patience.  They 
would  give  God  no  time :  they  would  not  trust  him. 
■  Take  them,'  says  the  Apostle,  '  for  an  example. 
Behold !  we  count  them  happy  which  endure :'  they 
trust  God :  like  the  three  children  walking  in  the 
tiery  furnace,  their  bonds  only  are  burnt,  while  they 
are  safe. 

St.  James  mentions  another  instance.  '  Ye  have 
heard  of  the  patience  of  Job  :'  he  was  a  suffering  man  : 
mark  his  patience :  consider  how  he  endured — 
'  Though  he  slay  me,  yet  will  I  trust  him  :  Ye  have 

von.  J  I.  25 


282 


SERMON  X,vIX. 


heard  of  the  patience  of  Job ;  and  have  seen  the  end 
of  the  Lord,  that  the  Lord  is  very  pitiful,  and  of  ten- 
der mercy.' 

All  these  witnesses  declared,  that  they  were  onlj 
strangers  upon  earth,  and  but  as  pilgrims  travelling  to 
a  better  country;  that  they  could  trust  their  Master: 
that  they  knew  in  whom  they  believed,  and  that  he 
was  able  to  keep  what  they  had  committed  to  him ; 
and  that  their  inheritance  was  a  reversion. 

Now  consider  "  the  end  of  the  Lord and  see 
in  every  case,  if  true  Christian  Patience  was  not 
the  Child  of  their  Faith,  and  the  Parent  of  their 
Success. 

III.  In  conclusion,  we  shall  make  a  few  REMARKS 
•from  this  subject. 

1.  We  here  see  the  ground  on  which  the  Apostle 
says  '  Be  patient.' 

Let  Passion  have  its  good  things  now,  and  it 
will  soon  be  in  rags :  let  passion  climb  the  highest 
step,  it  will  only  fall  the  sooner:  but  be  you  pa- 
tient, and  by  faith  and  patience,  be  you  '  followers 
of  them,  who,  through  faith  and  patience  inherit  the 
promises.' 

Let  me  exhort  you,  brethren  !  to  consider  the  line 
marked  out  by  your  Master.  When  tempted  to  impa- 
tience, ask  yourselves,  what  impatience  will  effect  for 
the  husbandman.  It  may  vex  and  harass  him  ;  but  il 
will  not  make  any  thing  grow.  Saul  would  not  wail 
for  the  Lord :  he  would  sacrifice  at  his  own  time,  and 
in  his  own  way,  and  would  go  to  a  witch  for  advice, 
because  he  was  impatient ;  but  remember,  he  had  no 
success.  David  learnt  a  very  different  lesson  :  when 
'  the  people  spake  of  stoning  him'  at  Ziklag,  '  he  en- 
couraged himself  in  the  Lord  his  God  :'  as  though  he 
had  said, God  knoweth  how  to  deliver  me !  Here  I 
stand,  and  will  establish  my  heart.  'As  the  eyes  of 
servants  look  unto  the  hand  of  their  masters,  and  as 
ihc  eyes  of  a  maiden  unto  the  hand  of  her  mistress : 


PATIENCE  THE  CHILD  OF  FAITH,  &c.  283 


so  mine  eyes  wait  upon  thee,  O  Lord  my  God,  until 
thou  have  mercy  upon  me.' "  My  dear  hearers,  you 
must  have  learnt,  in  the  course  of  your  experience, 
both  in  and  out  of  religion,  that  an  impatient  spirit 
mars  every  thing  with  which  it  is  concerned. 

Are  we  to  wait,  then,  for  '  the  early  and  the  latter 
rain  V  let  us  sow,  therefore,  though  we  sow  weeping. 
Let  us  rest  assured,  that,  while  we  thus  trust  him,  his 
work  is  going  safely  on.  Joseph  waited  God's  time  ; 
and  he  brought  him  out  of  the  prison,  and  made  him 
lord  of  Egypt.  Job  endured  many  reproaches ;  but, 
says  he,  "  '  I  know  that  my  Redeemer  liveth,'  and  that 
1  shall  one  day  '  see  him  for  myself.'  " 

The  man,  who  looked  at  Job,  if  he  rightly  under- 
stood the  case,  might  have  said,  "  That  man  is  mis- 
taken by  his  friends.  He  has  a  dark  night  and  a 
stormy  path  to  walk  in ;  yet  he  is  so  right  in  saying, 
'  Though  he  slay  me,  yet  will  I  trust  in  him,'  he  is  so 
right  in  patiently  waiting  for  the  coming  of  his  Lord, 
that  he  shall  find,  that,  in  God's  time,  he  will  draw 
nigh  to  him,  and  plead  his  cause." 

The  man,  who  marked  Haman  swelling  with  rage, 
and  discontented  and  wretched  till  he  had  procured 
the  death  of  Mordecai ;  and,  at  the  same  time,  had 
seen  Mordecai  looking  to  God  for  deliverance,  and 
urging  Esther  and  his  friends  to  prayer :  the  man, 
who  marked  these  things,  might  not  see  the  way  by 
which  God  would  deliver  his  servants,  but  he  shall 
soon  see  the  wheels  of  his  providence  in  motion.  The 
king  shall  not  be  able  to  sleep  :  his  instruments  of 
music  shall  not  sooth  him  :  till,  by  step  after  step, 
Mordecai  is  exalted  to  the  post  of  honour,  and  Haman 
hanged  upon  his  own  gallows. 

'  Be  patient,  therefore,  brethren.  Establish  youj 
hearts.' 

2.  We  observe,  that  the  way  to  walk  steadily  and 
steadfastly  is  to  keep  the  grand  object  before 
t's — 'the  coming  of  the  Lord.' 


284 


It  would  be  well  for  us,  if  we  could  every  morning 
say  to  ourselves  when  we  awake,  "  I  am  one  day 
nearer  to  '  the  coming  of  the  Lord :'  and,  perhaps, 
before  I  rise  again,  I  may  be  called  to  stand  in  his  pre- 
sence !"  This  is  the  great  secret  of  a  Christian — to 
have  Christ  the  Judge  present  in  the  conscience — 
'  Christ  in  us,  the  hope  of  glory' — Christ  in  us,  '  the 
way,  the  truth,  and  the  life :'  to  see  him,  by  faith, 
coming  on  his  '  great  white  throne'  in  the  heavens,  to 
be  the  '  judge  both  of  quick  and  dead.' 

The  Carnal  Professor  cannot  wait :  the  Antinomian 
Professor  cannot  wait,  nor  work,  nor  bear  the  cross  : 
the  Formalist  cannot  wait,  nor  submit  to  a  life  of 
faith :  the  Stony-Ground  Hearer  cannot  wait,  nor  en- 
dure the  burning  sun  of  temptation :  the  Worldly- 
VVise  Man  cannot  wait,  nor  understand  this  life  ol 
faith  and  patience. 

If  you  are  one  of  these  characters,  it  is  no  wonder 
that  you  do  not  succeed ;  but,  if  you  are  living 
branches  of  the  living  vine,  you  will  be  willing  to  wait 
for  Christ's  coming — you  will  be  willing  to  wait  for 
his  explanation  of  all  your  trials  and  temptations — 
you  will  ask,  "  How  will  he  pronounce  in  that  day  ?" 
for  it  is  of  no  avail  what  man  thinks  :  in  that  day,  the 
Judge  himself  will  hold  the  scales :  and  many,  who 
now  make  a  bold  profession,  will  then  be  found 
wanting. 

3.  Let  no  man,  however,  be  discouraged :  but, 
since  the  Apostle  introduces  here  a  cloud  of  witnesses, 

LET  us  ENDEAVOUR  TO  RUN  WITH  PATIENCE  THE 
RACE   SET   BEFORE  US. 

The  traveller  sets  forward  on  his  journey :  he 
means  to  attain  a  certain  end :  he  has  some  great  con- 
cerns to  settle  ;  perhaps  an  estate  to  receive,  of  which 
he  is  thinking  day  and  night.  Whatever  be  the  wea- 
ther, however  dark  the  clouds,  however  threatening 
ihe  face  of  the  sky,  this  man  will  say.     I  must  press 


PATIENCE  THE  CHILD  OF  FAITH,  &c. 


285 


forward,  and  that  continually,  if  I  would  attain  m) 
end!" 

He,  who  sets  this  race  before  us,  says,  '  So  run,  that 
ye  may  obtain.'  He  knows  that  we  are  soon  dis- 
heartened ;  and,  therefore,  he  points  us  to  '  the  foot- 
steps of  the  flock !'  Others  have  travelled  before  us  : 
yea,  and  in  much  worse  weather,  than  we  have  to  en- 
counter; and  loaded  with  heavier  burdens,  'enduring 
a  great  fight  of  afflictions.'  You  may  say,  therefore. 
"  I  have  a  dreary  path ;  but  I  must  travel  on  with  pa- 
tience. I  suffer ;  but  I  suffer  with  a  '  cloud  of  wit- 
nesses.' I  must  be  supported  as  they  were.  I  must 
live  upon  promises.  I  must  trust  that  word,  which 
cannot  be  broken  :  as  they  did,  who  have  now  finished 
their  course  with  joy." 

Brethren !  is  it  thus  with  you  ?  Then  shall  you 
'behold  the  king  in  his  beauty.'  You  shall  'see 
the  land  that  is  afar  off",'  and  have  every  tear  wiped 
from  your  eye.  You  shall  reap  the  harvest,  as 
well  as  '  sow  in  tears.'  The  corn,  that  is  to  produce 
bread  is  growing  through  the  storm,  through  many 
a  blustering  and  tempestuous  night,  through  many 
a  bitter  blast :  but,  '  Be  patient,  brethren.  To 
them,  who,  by  patient  continuance  in  well-doing 
seek  for  glory,  and  honour,  and  immortality — eternal 
life'  belongs. 

In  a  word,  whoever  is  taught  of  God,  sees  the 
success  that  attends  walking  in  the  path  of  pa- 
tience, and  has  encouragement  in  his  soul  to  be- 
lieve that  in  the  end  it  shall  be  well  with  him :  and 
whenever  he  sees  a  suffering  Christian,  hanging  on 
the  word ;  taking  hold  of  his  Master,  and  saying. 
'Though  he  slay  me,  yet  will  I  trust  in  him;' 
he  knows  that  every  such  man  has  not  only  a 
spiritual  perception,  but  a  moral  disposition  : 
"  There  is  the  man,"  he  will  say,  "  who  has  '  with 
him  the  secret  of  the  Lord!'    That  man  has  the 

VOI-.  II.  25* 


286 


rock  under  his  feet !  That  man  shall  weather  the 
storm !" 

May  the  Holy  Spirit,  therefore,  give  you  to 
see,  that  Patience  is  the  Child  of  Faith  and  the 
Parent  of  Success :  for  surely,  '  the  day  of  the  Lord 
draweth  nigh.'  And,  in  that  day,  may  you  and  1 
meet  at  the  right-hand  of  Christ :  as  witnesses 
that  the  word  of  our  God  is  Trnlli.  and  endurrth 
for  ever! 


SERMON  XXX. 


\  TRANSIENT  WORLD  AND  ABIDING  CHRISTIAN 
Preached  on  the  last  Day  of  the  Year. 
1  John,  ii,  17. 

The  world  passelh  away,  and  the  lust  thereof :  but  he,  that  doeth 
the  will  of  God,  abideth  for  ever. 

A  THOROUGH  and  practical  acquaintance  with  things 
is  important  to  us  in  proportion  to  the  interest  which 
we  have  in  them.  Were  any  one  able  to  give  us 
a  minute  account  of  the  planet  Jupiter,  it  might 
amuse  our  curiosity,  but  could  be  of  no  material  ad- 
vantage ;  for  what  have  we  to  do  with  the  planet  Ju- 
piter ?  But,  if  any  one  come  as  a  teacher  from  God — 
an  infallible  guide — and  give  me  an  account  of  that 
with  which  I  have  so  much  to  do — an  account  of  this 
world ;  and,  if  that  account  were  accurate,  and,  a< 
the  same  time,  alarming ;  and  yet  he  were  to  tell  mc 
how  I  might  escape  the  evil — this  is  a  messenger  of  a 
thousand  !  1  am  on  board  a  vessel :  it  is  of  great  im- 
portance to  me  to  know  in  what  state  that  vessel  is  : 
one  tells  me,  not  only  that  the  vessel  shall  be  dashed 
in  pieces,  but  how  I  may  escape : — such  a  friend, 
and  in  such  a  manner,  speaks  to  us  to-night — and 
says,  'The  world  passeth  away,  and  the  lust  thereof: 
but  he,  that  doeth  the  will  of  God,  abideth  for  ever.' 

This  subject  seems  particularly  suited,  to  us,  now  in 
the  evening  of  the  last  day  of  this  year.  You  will 
say,  perhaps,  "  It  has  passed  like  a  dream!"  It  has  : 
fjnd  your  whole  life,  when  you  reach  its  concluding 


288 


SERMOX  XXX. 


point,  and  look  back  on  it,  will  appear  a  dream  :  but 
here  is  an  account  of  the  World  itself — 'it  passetb 
away.' 

Let  us  endeavour, 

1.  To  enter  into  the  meamxg  of  the  Apostle  in 
these  words  : 

2.  To  make  a  practical  improvement  of  them 
to  our  own  hearts. 

I.  We  will  consider  the  MEANING  of  the  Apostle. 

'  The  world  passeth  away.'  What  is  to  be  under- 
stood by  the  world  here  ?  It  is  plain  that  the  Apostle 
principally  means  that  part  of  the  world,  which  men 
are  most  apt  to  covet  and  build  on :  for,  in  the  verse 
preceding  the  text,  he  says,  '  All,  that  is  in  the  world, 
the  lust  of  the  flesh,  the  lust  of  the  eyes,  and  the 
pride  of  life,  is  not  of  the  Father,  but  is  of  the  world.' 
Take  these  things  away  from  the  natural  man,  and 
you  have  left  him  nothing !  you  have  taken  away  his 
all !  And  what  is  his  all  ? — It  is  the  world,  says  the 
Apostle  : — The  world — not  as  God  made  it,  but  as  sin 
hath  made  it. 

And  this  world,  says  the  Apostle,  passeth  uivaxj. 
'  That,  which  has  been,  is  that,  which  shall  be ;  and 
there  is  nothing  new  under  the  sun.'  The  world  is 
but  like  a  theatre,  in  which  the  scenes  are  shifted 
every  moment :  it  "  passeth  away :'  '  the  pageant  of 
this  world  passeth  by ."  Look  at  it :  it  is  gone !  Like  a 
man  dreaming  of  fine  scenes — he  awakes !  and  they 
are  all  gone !  When  a  man  comes  to  die,  the  whole 
world  will  thus  appear :  whatever  he  may  have  seen, 
it  is  now  passed :  all  the  splendour  and  bustle,  in 
which  he  has  been  engaged,  is  now  passed  ;  and  it  has 
been  nothing!  '■'What  shall  the  man  rfo,"  says  Solo- 
mon, that  Cometh  after  the  king  ?  and  I  have  found 
the  whole  world  to  be  vanity."  Depend  on  it,  the 
man,  who  has  made  the  trial,  will  say,  It  is  passed 
by !  I  have  seen  it,  and  it  was  all  vanity  and  vexation 
of  spirit.^^    It  is  just  as  the  year,  that  is  now  depart- 


A  TRANSIENT  WORLD,  &:c.  289 


ing.  It  has  passed  before  our  eyes  like  a  dream.  We 
recollect  this,  and  that,  and  the  other  circumstance  : 
but  now  they  are  gone  by !  Yea,  and  the  world  itself 
is  going!  And  not  only  the  world,  but  its  lusts  and  its 
desires  are  passing  away  :  they  shall  soon  fail ;  so  that 
the  Christian  shall  be  obliged  to  say,  "  '  I  loathe  it :  I 
would  not  live  always.  Few  and  evil  have  the  days 
of  the  years  of  my  life  been.'  There  has  been  so 
much  disquiet  in  my  family,  so  much  trouble  among 
my  children,  so  many  disappointments,  so  much  mor- 
tification, so  many  combats  with  my  heart,  so  much 
difficulty  even  to  get  on  thus  far — that,  if  it  does  but 
please  God  to  bring  me  to  a  better  world,  no  matter 
how  soon !" 

"  Truly,"  says  one,  "  this  is  a  melancholy  picture ! 
You  are  hanging  the  world  in  mourning!" 

Brethren !  this  is  not  my  account.  Were  it  so, 
perhaps  you  might  say  1  had  been  crossed  and  disap- 
pointed in  the  world,  and  had  quarrelled  with  it.  It 
is  of  no  moment  what  account  any  man  gives  of  the 
world  :  let  us  ask,  What  account  does  God  give  of  it  ? 
Now  He  tells  us,  that  it  '  passeth  away,  with  the  lusts 
thereof:'  he  tells  us,  that  the  vessel  will  soon  become 
a  wreck  :  and  his  account  will  always  tally  with  expe- 
rience, for  the  book  of  his  Word  ever  agrees  with  the 
book  of  his  Providence.  Though,  however,  this  is  a 
distressing,  mortifying,  and  melancholy  estimate  of 
that  world  on  which  the  carnal  heart  is  fixed,  let  the 
carnal  man  begin  to  suspect  it  to  be  true.  It  is  well 
for  the  mariner,  who  is  in  a  sinking  ship,  to  know  that 
he  is  so.  "  The  world  in  my  heart,"  says  a  sound  di- 
vine, "  is  a  worse  disorder  than  was  ever  brought  to 
Christ  in  the  flesh  for  cure  :"  and  those,  who  have 
triumphed  most  in  it,  have  found  it  to  be  so. 

But  we  ought  never  to  stop  here  :  much  less  ought 
we  to  object  to  Christianity,  as  presenting  only  a 
melancholy  prospect.  God  tells  us,  indeed,  what  will 
not  bear  us  up  :  he  tells  us  what  will  deceive  us  :  he 


290 


SERMON  XXX. 


tells  us  where  there  is  no  rest  for  our  foot ;  but  at  the 
same  time,  he  tells  us  where  that  rest  may  be  found. 
A  melancholy  cynic  of  a  philosopher  may  give  us  his 
estimate  of  the  world  :  he  may  tell  us  that  it  presents 
a  melancholy  picture ;  because  he  knows  of  nothing 
better.  But  tell  a  Christian  Minister  that  the  world 
must  pass  away  :  "  It  is  true,"  he  will  say.  Tell  him 
that  its  lusts  must  pass  away — its  pleasures,  its  desires, 
its  amusements  :  "  That  is  true  too :  yet  there  is  a  man. 
who  shall  not  pass  away,  but  abide  for  ever !" 

Who  is  that  man  ?  The  account  given  of  him  in 
the  text  is,  that '  he  doeth  the  will  of  God.' 

I  would  remark  here,  that  the  godly  man  is  va- 
riously described  in  Scripture.  Sometimes  he  is 
called  a  Just  man;  sometimes,  a  faithful  man;  some- 
times, a  merciful  man;  a  man,  who  is  pure  in  heart; 
a  believer  in  God ;  a  man  of  hope ;  a  man,  that  doeth 
the  will  of  God  freely.  These  are  only  different 
names  and  descriptions  of  one  particular  character. 
Rest  not,  therefore,  on  one  description,  lest  you  should 
mistake.  They  are  only  features :  take  the  whole 
countenance. 

This  man  is  said  to  do  the  will  of  God.  For  instance 
— is  it  the  will  of  God  for  perishing  sinners  'to  believe 
on  him  whom  God  hath  sent  V  "  God  forbid,"  says 
this  man,  "  that  I  should  '  reject  the  counsel  of  God 
against  myself  ?'  Has  my  Master  and  Saviour  said, 
that  it  is  his  will  that  the  Spirit  should  dwell  in  me. 
and  that  I  should  be  made  a  habitation  of  God  through 
the  Spirit ;  and  has  he  bid  me  to  pray  for  the  Spirit  ? 
then  let  me  go  and  ask  for  it  freely :  not  that  I  can 
deserve  this  gift,  but  I  can  ask  for  it  as  he  has  com- 
manded me.  Has  he  enjoined  me  to  sacrifice  no 
longer  to  my  lusts  ?  O  Lord !  sanctify  me  through 
thy  truth !  separate  me  from  the  world ;  from  my 
evil  habits  and  my  evil  companions  :  that  I  mav  show 
forth  thy  praise  ;  that  I  may  do  thy  will !"  '  He,  that 
doeth  the  will  of  God,'  doth  it  thus  from  the  heart  : 


A  TRANSIENT  WORLD,  &C,  291 


because  he  loves  God,  and  is  united  to  him  by  his 
Spirit.  Is  the  will  of  God  revealed  as  a  practical 
will  ?  Is  he  charged  no  longer  to  spend  his  money  on 
that  which  is  not  bread  ?  and  to  hear  that  his  soul  may 
live  ?  he  is  found  choosing  that,  which  God  hath  cho- 
sen :  and  refusing  that,  which  God  refuseth. 

The  Bible  is  a  system  of  truths,  doctrinal  and  prac- 
tical :  and  this  man  agrees  in  heart  with  the  doctrinal, 
and  guides  his  actions  by  the  practical ;  because  '  the 
love  of  God  is  shed  abroad  in  his  heart.'  His  whole 
desire  is  to  do  the  will  of  God.  He  is  a  branch  en- 
grafted into  the  true  and  living  vine  ;  and  is  here  de- 
scribed bv  the  Holy  Ghost  himself  as  a  man  '  doing 
the  will  of  God.' 

It  may  be  asked,  perhaps,  how  it  can  be  said,  that 
he  '  abideth  for  ever-^  " '  The  world  passeth  away :' 
does  not  he  ?  '  The  wicked  is  driven  away  :'  is  not 
he  ?  Are  not  both  removed  to  one  place — the  grave !" 
Doubtless ;  but  there  is  an  important  sense,  in  which, 
while  '  the  world  passeth  away,'  the  man  '  that  doeth 
the  will  of  God  abideth  for  ever.' 

For  instance :  you  say  that  he  passes  away  at 
death ;  but  would  you  oppose  that  to  his  abiding  for 
ever?  I  will  allow  that  '  the  wicked  is  driven  away,' 
but  not  this  man.  It  is  ruin  to  the  wicked  :  it  is  '  the 
second  death'  to  him ;  and,  therefore  wretched  sin- 
ners have  invented  Eternal  Sleep  as  their  only  hope. 
But  it  is  this  man's  blessing  and  privilege,  that  death 
shall  not  bring  destruction  to  him.  If  a  miserable 
prisoner  were  taken  out  of  his  dungeon  to  a  palace, 
in  order  to  receive  a  kingdom,  you  would  not  say  that 
he  ceases  to  be  a  man  !  you  would  not  say  that  he  dis- 
continues to  abide !  you  would  say,  "  Nothing  has 
happened  to  him,  but  an  advantageous  change  in  his 
manner  and  living."  So  I  say  of  this  man.  "  Nothing 
lias  happened  in  death  to  injure  him'f  Nothing  has 
happened  but  a  glorious  change  in  his  manner  of  living ! 
Here  he  has  lived  a  life  of  sorrow,  sickness,  pain,  and 


292 


SERMON  XXX. 


temptation;  'fighting  the  good  fight  of  faith;'  and 
striving  against  the  stream  of  the  world.  He  has  hved 
here  by  faith;  and  there  he  hves  by  sight.  Where 
he  now  is,  sorrow  and  sighing  are  taken  away ; 
and  he  is  crowned  with  glory,  immortality,  and  life 
eternal." 

Notice  the  word  abideth.  It  is  not  said  '  he  shall 
abide.'  He  remains  in  the  possession  of  every  good 
which  he  ever  enjoyed.  Was  there  any  thing  good 
in  his  family  :  any  walking  there  with  him  in  faith 
and  love !  he  abideth  with  them,  and  shall  be  with 
them  for  ever.  Had  he  any  friend  with  whom  '  he 
took  sweet  counsel,  and  walked  together  to  the  house 
of  God  in  company  ?'  he  shall  abide  in  full  fruition  of 
that  friendship.  That  is  the  only  friendship  worthy  of 
the  name  !  That  is  friendship  eternal !  Had  he  the 
anchor  of  Hope,  to  cast  out  in  a  storm  ?  If  he  loses 
his  anchor,  it  is  that  he  may  enter  on  the  full  enjoy- 
ment of  that  for  which  he  hoped.  Had  he  union 
with  Christ  ?  he  abideth  in  full  possession  of  it  there ! 
Death  will  change  his  state,  but  not  his  object.  All 
his  gold,  all  his  jewels,  be  carries  with  him :  he  abi- 
deth in  the  full  possession  of  them  ;  while  he  himself 
enters  into  that  '  eternal  weight  of  glory,'  which  the 
eye  never  saw,  the  ear  never  heard,  nor  did  it  ever 
enter  into  the  heart  to  conceive. 

'  The  world  passeth  away,'  therefore, '  with  the  lust^ 
thereof.'  It  is  not  our  hope :  it  is  not  our  resting- 
place  :  never  let  us  make  it  such.  But,  while  these 
things  pass  away,  there  is  something  which  abideth : 
faith,  hope,  and  love :  not  perfect,  indeed,  here ;  buf 
they  carry  us  on  to  a  state  of  maturity  in  a  better 
world. 

II.  Having  shown  you  the  Sense  of  the  Text, 
let  me  now  bring  before  you  some  REMARKS  on 
this  subject. 

1.  AVe  may  hence  learn,  that  which  was  suggested 
by  wise  men  of  old — the  KXOwr,F.noF,  of  ourselves. 


A  TRANSIENT  WORLD,  kc. 


293 


"Man!  know  thyself."  This  was  a  celebrated 
aphorism  of  antiquity ;  but  it  had  no  just  meaning : 
it  wanted  the  counsel  of  God.  But  this  text  teaches 
us  the  true  knowledge  of  ourselves.  It  teaches  us 
what  our  earthly  tabernacle  is ;  that  it  is  coming 
down.  It  tells  us  what  our  lusts  are;  that  they  are 
passing  away.  It  admonishes  us,  that  men  of  the 
world  are  beguiled  :  that  they  are  setting  their  hearts 
on  that  which  is  perishing. 

2.  We  may  learn,  that  to  do  the  will  of  god 

IS   A   PROFITABLE  SERVICE. 

God  assures  us,  that  '  nothing  shall  harm  us,  if  we 
be  followers  of  that  which  is  good.'  He  promises 
that  we  shall  have  persevering  grace:  'I  will  write 
my  laws  in  their  hearts,  and  they  shall  not  depart  from 
me.' 

We  may  feel,  then,  the  years  pass  away,  death  at 
hand,  the  body  decay,  another  large  portion  of  our 
hves  cut  off ;  but  we  may  add,  "  So  be  it !  No  one  in 
earth  or  hell  can  touch  my  portion !  God  has  pro- 
mised that  I  shall  abide  for  ever!  What  have  I  to  do 
with  dying  ?  I  am  an  immortal  :  and  my  God  has 
promised  that  I  shall  flourish  to  immortality."  Let 
us  cry,  then,  '  Remember,  O  Lord,  the  Word,  upon 
which  thou  hast  caused  thy  servant  to  hope !'  Let  us 
remember,  also,  that  Jesus  '  is  the  resurrection  and 
the  life.'  This  is  knowing  to  purpose  :  this  is  blessed, 
comforting,  and  sanctifying  knowledge. 

3.  Here  we  may  learn  to  know  the  world. 

We  hear  great  boasting  of  "knowing  the  world.-' 
Every  stripling  will  look  his  father  in  the  face,  and 
tell  him  he  wishes  "  to  know  the  world  ;"  and  he  v/ill 
plunge  into  all  the  miseries  of  life — "to  know  the 
world !" 

Happy  only  the  man,  who  knows  the  world  by 
knowing  his  God,  his  Bible,  and  Himself:  he  shall 
know  the  world  to  purpose.  The  Philosopher  sees 
'he  world  passing  away  ;  but  he  sees  it  with  a  pang  ; 

VOL.   IT.  '26 


294 


SERMON  XXX. 


he  sees  it  with  regret ;  there  is  so  much  taken  from 
his  happiness  :  "  I  lose  my  eyes,  my  teeth,  my  hear- 
ing, my  health,  my  vigour  and  he  grows  peevish  and 
fretful.  But  the  Christian  sees  it  pass  with  a  calm 
and  solid  satisfaction  :  "  Here,"  says  he,  "  I  see  a 
dying  world  passing  away  ;  but  my  Lord  has  told  me 
that  it  passeth  away  :  Yet  '  1  faint  not ;  for  though  my 
outward  man  perish,  yet  the  inward  man  is  renewed 
day  by  day.'  I  have  '  a  house  not  made  with  hands, 
eternal  in  the  heavens.'  1  am  waiting  for  this  abode. 
1  am  not  disappointed,  to  hear  that  life  is  but  a  fiond- 
hreadth  :  I  knew  it.  You  tell  me  that  my  tabernacle 
is  to  be  taken  down  :  I  knew  that  I  should  be  crushed 
before  the  moth." 

The  most  illiterate  Christian  has  a  practical  know- 
ledge of  these  things.  He  sees  a  bankrupt  world  in 
such  a  light,  that  he  will  not  trust  it.  He  is  become 
an  humble  believer  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  He 
has  read  the  history  of  Balak  and  Nebuchadnezzar, 
of  Belshazzar,  and  of  Dives ;  and  he  has  turned  it  to 
profit.  And  now  he  says,  "  '  O  Lord,  what  wait  I  for  / 
Truly  my  hope  is  in  thee !'  not  in  a  dream  ;  not  in  a 
shadow;  not  in  a  pageant!  Oh,  help  me  to  repel  the 
fiery  darts  with  which  I  am  assaulted.  Help  me  to 
count  thy  favour  better  than  life  itself." 

Let  us  learn  thus  to  know  the  world.  All  other 
knowledge  is  splendid  ignorance. 

4.  We  may  learn  to  know  the  gospel. 
The  Gospel  is  a  foundation  for  a  m?n  to  set  his  foot 
9n,  while  the  world  is  passing  away  from  under  him. 
Tell  the  Christian  that  there  is  no  hope  in  nature — 
•'God,"  says  he,  "never  intended  there  should  be. 
He  never  intended  this  world  to  stand  :  and,  if  there 
were  nothing  else  to  destroy  it,  sin  would  effect  its 
ruin.  But  there  is  a  foundation,  that  standeth  sure : 
and  he  who  builds  on  that  foimdation,  shall  stand  for 
ever." 

The  Master-huUder  determined  to  lay  no  other  fonn- 


A  TRANSIENT  WORLD,  kc. 


295 


dation :  and  when  we  have  truly  built  on  that,  we 
may  bid  defiance  to  passing  worlds,  mouldering  bodies, 
and  all  the  ravages  of  time.  While  left  in  the  world, 
walking  according  to  God's  will  and  in  his  way,  you 
will  be  taken  into  his  family ;  for  '  Whoso,'  said  the 
Saviour,  '  doeth  the  will  of  my  Father,  the  same  is  my 
my  brother  and  sister  and  mother :'  and,  therefore, 
shall  dwell  with  him  for  ever. 

Brethren!  have  you  begun  to  build  against  every 
approaching  storm  ?  The  foolish  man's  house,  how- 
ever fairly  erected,  was  built  on  sand,  and  must  come 
down.  If  you  are,  indeed,  building  on  Christ,  the 
winds  may  blow  and  the  waves  may  rise,  but  you  are 
secure.  Oh,  that  we  may  lay  it  effectually  to  heart, 
that,  while  days  pass  away  and  our  friends  are  dying 
around  us,  we  ourselves  shall  soon  be  called  to  die ! 
Oh !  that  we  may  learn  to  build  on  the  Rock  of  Ages ! 
The  world  is  departing,  and  opportunities  are  passing 
away.  Many  say,  "How  swift  has  this  departing 
year  fled !"  True — it  has ;  but  has  the  swiftness  of 
its  flight  brought  you  to  think  for  yourselves,  on  what 
you  are  to  stand,  that  you  may  stand  for  ever  ?  '  I  be- 
seech you,  dearly  beloved,  as  strangers  and  pilgrims' 
drawing  nearer  and  nearer  to  your  eternal  home,  to 
recollect,  that  '  now  is  the  accepted  time,'  that  '  this 
is  the  day  of  salvation. 

May  God,  of  his  infinite  mercy,  make  it  such  to 
every  one  of  us,  for  Jesus  Christ's  sake  I 


SERMON  XXXI. 


LOSS  OF  FIRST  LOVE. 
Rev.  ir,  4. 

■^cveilheless,  1  have  somewhat  against  thee,  because  thou  has  lei' 
thy  first  love. 

When  Christ  left  the  world,  in  respect  of  his  bodily 
presence,  he  left  this  promise  with  his  disciples  :  '  Lo. 
I  am  with  you  alwaj,  even  unto  the  end  of  the  world 
and  he  gave  proof  that  his  promise  might  be  depend- 
ed on  :  and  not  only  so,  but  he  permitted  them  to  sec 
the  performahce  of  it. 

When  a  furious  persecutor,  like  Saul  of  Tarsus,  was 
destroying  the  Church,  had  he  known  of  this  promise, 
he  would  have  disregarded  and  despised  it,  yet  Christ 
had  not  forgotten  it ;  and  therefore  arrests  him  on  his 
way  :  '  Saul,  Saul,  why  persecutest  thou  me  ?' 

When  St.  John  was  banished  to  Patmos,  and,  as  it 
is  said  by  some  historians,  made  a  slave  in  the  mines 
there,  had  Christ  then  forgotten  this  promise  ?  No ! 
we  have  here  its  fulfilment.  He  visits,  and  under  a 
glorious  appearance,  his  servant  in  Patmos.  The 
Apostle  sees  his  Master  walking  among  the  golden 
candlesticks,  and  hears  him  bid  him  write  the  things 
which  he  had  seen,  and  which  should  be  hereafter. 
In  thus  visiting  him,  Christ  proved  that  he  still  lived, 
and  that  he  lived  for  the  benefit  of  his  Church;  and 
he  sent  by  him  messages  to  different  Churches.  We 
have  now  to  consider  a  part  of  the  message  which  he 
sent  to  one  of  these  Churches  :  '  Unto  the  angel,'  or 
principal  minister.  '  of  the  Church  of  Ephesus,  write  . 


LOSS  OF  FIRST  LOVE. 


297 


These  things  saith  he  that  holdeth  the  seven  stars  in 
his  right  hand,  who  walketh  in  the  midst  of  the  seven 
golden  candlesticks  :  I  know  thy  works,  and  thy  la- 
bour, and  thy  patience;  and  how  thou  canst  not  bear 
them  which  are  evil ;  and  thou  hast  tried  them  which 
say  they  are  apostles  and  are  not,  and  hast  found  them 
liars  ;  and  hast  borne ;  and  hast  patience ;  and  for  my 
Name's  sake  hast  laboured,  and  hast  not  fainted.' 
These  are  high  commendations:  but,  in  the  text,  he 
says,  '  Nevertheless,  nevertheless — I  have  some- 
what against  thee,  because  thou  hast  left  thy  first  love 
thou  art  now  in  a  state  of  decay. 

I  shall  consider,  concerning  this  decay  in  religion, 

1.  Its  NATURE. 

2.  Its  DANGER. 

3.  Its  SYMPTOMS. 

4.  Its  REMEDY. 

I.  We  are  to  consider  the  NATURE  of  decay  in 
religion. 

You  are  to  distinguish  here.  Brethren,  between  a 
Church  decaying,  and  a  Church  that  is  dead.  This 
Church  was  not  dead.  A  Church  is  mentioned,  in  the 
beginning  of  the  third  chapter,  that  was  dead:  '  Unto 
the  angel  of  the  Church  in  Sardis  write.  These  things 
saith  he  that  hath  the  seven  Spirits  of  God  :  I  know  thy 
works,  that  thou  hast  a  name  that  thou  livest,  and  art 
dead  !'  A  Church  may  be  alive,  as  to  its  ordinances  and 
doctrines ;  and  yethave  '  left  its  first  love.'  It  may  hold 
the  truth  :  it  may  have  the  Gospel  in  the  form  of  it; 
and  in  the  power  of  it  too,  in  a  certain  degree,  so  as 
not  to  be  dead  :  and  yet — what  we  may  call  the  soul 
of  religion — the  spirituality,  the  love,  the  zeal,  the 
fervor,  which  it  once  had,  may  be  gone. 

There  is  not  one  of  us,  who  does  not  understand 
this  in  natural  things.  You  know  what  it  is  to  be  sick, 
when  you  are  not  dead.  You  know  what  it  is  to  have 
a  friend  sick,  and  to  feel  for  him  ;  to  be  alarmed  and 
distressed,  when  he  is  not  dead  :  but  you  are  alarmed, 
voT,.  It.  26* 


298 


SERMON  XXXI. 


because  your  friend  is  sick ;  and  because  you  know 
that  he  must  die,  if  he  does  not  mend.  You  would 
not  say  of  bad  wine,  "  It  is  not  wine :"  but,  "•  It  is  nol 
good  wine  :  it  has  not  a  good  flavour."  So,  of  fruit, 
you  would  not  say,  "  It  is  not  an  apricot,  or  a  peach 
but,  It  is  not  a  fine  one :  it  has  lost  its  flavour.'* 
And  so,  of  a  Church,  you  cannot  say,  "  It  does  not 
hold  the  truth :"  you  cannot  say,  "  It  is  dead  but. 
"  There  are  evident  signs  of  decay  :  it  has  lost  its  first 
love." 

And,  my  dear  friends,  let  us  consider,  also,  that  he. 
who  searches  the  heart,  knows  perfectly  our  particular 
cases.  He  may  justly  reprove  us,  when  man  may 
have  nothing  wherewith  to  reproach  us.  ."  What 
charge  can  you  bring  against  my  Christian  pro- 
fession?"— None,  perhaps  :  yet  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ 
may  be  able  to  say,  '  Thou  hast  left  thy  first  love' — 
thy  zeal — thy  fervency. 

Our  Lord  acknowledges  that  there  was  life  in  this 
Church.  "'I  know  thy  works,  and  thy  labour,  and 
thy  patience,  and  how  thou  canst  not  bear  them 
which  are  evil ;  and  thou  hast  tried  them  which  say 
they  are  apostles,  and  are  not,  and  hast  found  them 
liars:  and  hast  borne,  and  hast  "patience  :  and,  for 
my  name's  sake,  hast  laboured,  and  hast  not  fainted.' 
Yet,  notwithstanding  this,  he,  who  searcheth  the  heart 
and  trieth  the  reins  of  the  children  of  men,  sees  that 
the  spirit,  the  life,  the  power,  the  unction — that  which 
may  be  called  the  first  love  in  thee — is  gone  :  there  is 
a  coldness,  a  comparative  indifference,  a  want  of 
spirituality,  a  want  of  tenderness  of  conscience.  Thou 
dost  not  feel  toward  me,  as  thou  once  didst.  Thou 
dost  not  feel  toward  my  people,  as  thou  once  didst. 
Thou  art  not  jealous  for  my  cause  and  interest,  as  thou 
once  wast." 

A  good  man  may  say,  "  I  know  not  what  is  the  mat- 
ter:  but  things  are  not  with  me  as  they  once  were." 
'Butj  my  dear  hearers,  long  before  good  men  arc 


LOSS  OF  FIRST  LOV  E. 


299 


alarmed,  Jesus  Christ  saw  the  evil :  he  marked  a 
worm  at  the  root,  eating  out  the  spirit  and  energy  of 
their  profession.  When  we  have  still  many  good 
things,  yet  he  may  have  somewhat  against  us. 

II.  Let  us  consider  the  DANGER  of  this  state  oi 
religioua  decay. 

The  most  fatal  ruins,  are  frequently  not  those  which 
come  suddenly ;  hut  those  which  come  progressively 
— by  little  and  little — from  step  to  step.  There  is  not 
a  more  fatal  disease  than  a  consumption  :  yet  the  con- 
sumptive patient  is  frequently  so  deceived  respecting 
his  disorder,  because  he  is  not  in  violent  pain,  and  the 
progress  of  his  disease  is  slow,  that  you  can  scarcely 
persuade  him  of  his  danger:  consumptive  persons 
will  plan  and  contrive  for  months  and  years  to  come, 
when  they  have  not  a  week  to  live !  Decay  in  religion 
is  of  this  nature :  it  is  a  spiritual  consumption.  If  a 
house  receive  a  shock  from  a  stroke  of  lightning,  i< 
may  still  be  sound  in  the  main,  and  may  not  require  to 
be  pulled  down  :  but  if  a  house  begin  to  decay  at  the 
foundation,  there  is  littlp  hope  but  it  must  come  down. 

Brethren !  I  say  these  things  to  warn  you.  In  con- 
ducting our  ministry,  we  must  treat  on  its  various 
topics  :  at  one  tinie  we  instruct,  at  another  encourage, 
and  at  a  third  warn.  I  would  now  put  you  on  your 
guard,  and  I  would  put  myself  on  my  guard,  because 
we  are  in  danger. 

III.  Since  there  is  such  Danger  in  religious  decay, 
let  us  inquire  what  are  the  SIGNS  of  it.  How  shall 
we  know  as  a  Church,  and  how  shall  I  know  indivi- 
dually, when  decay  is  coming  upon  us,  so  as  to  es- 
cape it  ? 

Here  it  is  impossible  for  me  to  enter  into  a  full  view 
of  its  symptoms :  I  can  give  but  a  few  of  those  signs, 
whereby  the  loss  of  first  love  may  be  known.  And 
what  I  shall  say  on  this  point,  I  shall  say  both  from  ob- 
servation of  my  own  heart,  and  from  observation  in 
my  ministry. 


300 


1 .  Though  a  man  in  his  first  love,  his  first  zeal,  first 
spirit  and  savour,  will  not  rest  solely  in  his  knowledge 
of  divine  truth  ;  yet  he  will  contend  earnestly  for  the 
faith  once  delivered  to  the  saints  :'  because  he  knows, 
that,  by  hearing  and  receiving  the  truths  and  principle;- 
of  the  Gospel,  he  has  been  enabled  to  '  escape  the 
corruptions  that  are  in  the  world  through  lust.'  But, 
when  he  leaves  his  first  love,  you  will  find  him  rest- 
ing IN  and  BUILDING  ON   HIS   KNOWLEDGE  OF  DIVINE 

TRUTHS  :  whether  a  soul-transforming  power  accom- 
panies them  is  another  matter :  he  rests  in  his  know- 
ledge of  them.  Or  he  is  satisfied,  perhaps,  with  a 
regular  walk ;  with  keeping  the  company  to  which  he 
has  been  accustomed,  and  talking  the  same  language 
which  he  used  to  talk  :  while  he  may  be  cold  as  to  the 
design  and  principle  of  the  Christian  walk  and  con- 
versation. He  will  contend  earnestly  for  the  forms- 
and  particular  opinions  of  the  party  to  which  he  is 
united ;  but  he  is  cold  as  to  growing  up  into  Christ 
Jesus  in  all  things,  and  glorifying  God  in  the  world, 
and  walking  through  it  as  Christ  did,  and  overcoming 
it  by  a  living  faith. 

2.  The  man,  who  has  left  his  first  love,  is  cold  l^ 

SPIRITUAL,  AND   WARM    IN   SECULAR   PURSUITS.  Bc- 

fore,  his  worldly  affairs  were  subordinate  :  he  did  his 
business,  and  followed  his  profession  as  his  duty  :  now 
his  whole  heart  is  occupied  therein. 

3.  He  BEGINS  TO  BE  VERY  SUSCEPTIBLE  OF  TAKING 

OFFENCE.  He  cannot  meet  the  servants  of  God  as  he 
used  to  do.  He  cannot  now  get  over  little  stumbling- 
blocks,  which  he  finds  in  his  way.  He  searches  for 
plausible  reasons  for  withdrawing  himself  from  the 
servants  of  God.  There  is  '  a  mote  in  his  brother's 
eye  ;'  when  alas !  he  sees  not  the  '  beam  that  is  in  his 
own.'  He  shrinks  back  now  from  every  difficulty. 
Every  little  thing  now  hurts  him.  Why  is  all  this  ? 
he  has  left  liis  first  love.  You  will  find  him  accomo- 
dating himself  to  the  world ;  doing  what  he  oner 


LOSS  OF  FIRST  LOVE. 


301 


could  not  do ;  and  associating  with  those  with  whom 
he  once  could  not  bear  to  associate.  He  is  impa- 
tient, also,  of  reproof.  Formerly  his  language  was, 
'  Search  me,  O  God,  and  know  my  heart :  try  me, 
and  see  if  there  be  any  wicked  way  in  me,'  and  point 
out  any  symptoms  of  decay :  to  a  friend  or  to  his  rni- 
nister  he  would  say,  "  If  you  see  me  do  any  thing- 
wrong,  pray  speak  to  me  :  I  charge  you  to  be  faithful : 
be  not  afraid  to  speak  to  me :  tell  me  my  error ;  for  I 
am  seeking  the  truth,  and  seeking  to  glorify  God  by  a 
consistent  profession  of  it."  But  now — tell  him  of 
an  error,  or  of  a  danger  which  you  perceive  in  his 
practice,  he  may  perhaps  preserve  his  temper, 
but  you  will  soon  find  him  grow  shy  of  you  :  he 
has  left  his  first  love,  and  he  does  not  choose  to  be 
reproved. 

4.  But  there  is  a  sign  still  more  awful,  and  more 
significant  of  that  death  which  is  coming  on  such  a 
soul :  and  that  is,  where  a  man,  who  once  had  the 
life  and  love  of  religion,  can  sport  with  the 
church's  woiTMns.  Do  you  understand  me  ?  Where 
he  can  join  the  laugh  of  the  profane  at  the  Church  of 
Christ,  because  of  the  weakness  and  folly  that  may 
be  discerned  in  its  Ministers  or  Professors  ;  where  he 
can  be  willing  to  listen  to  their  objections,  and  support 
them,  and  thereby  wound  and  injure  the  cause  of 
Christ.  He  stumbles  at  weak  things.  '  Who  is  weak,' 
says  St.  Paul,  '  and  I  am  not  weak  ?  Who  is  offended, 
and  I  am  not  offended  V  I  would  heal  the  wounds  : 
I  would  cover  them  with  charity  :  '  Charity  covereth 
a  multitude  of  sins.' 

Brethren !  these  are  some  of  the  signs  of  religious 
decay.  Where  these  are  found,  depend  on  it  that 
Satan,  though  not  making  an  open  assault,  is  yet 
secretly  undermining  the  soul.  "  '  Remember,  there- 
fore,' says  our  Lord,  '  from  whence  thou  art  fallen.' 
If  you  slight  your  privileges,  remember  that  I  will 
not  suffer  my  Gospel  to  be  trifled  with:  I  will  not 


302 


SERMON  XXXI. 


suffer  my  inestimable  blessings  to  be  slighted :  '  I  will 
come,  and  will  remove  thy  candlestick  out  of  its 
place.' "  Here  is  our  danger.  The  danger  of  a 
Church  is  not  from  cruel  tyrants,  or  a  burning  tier}' 
furnace:  the  danger  of  a  Church  is,  when  Jesus 
Christ  looks  on,  and  says,  '  I  have  somewhat  againsl 
thee and  when  he  adds,  '  I  will  come,  and  remove 
thy  candlestick  out  of  its  place.'  This  is  the  danger 
of  a  Church :  and  therefore,  above  all  things,  let  us 
fear  decay,  and  watch  against  it,  lest  we  lose  our  light 
and  our  privileges. 

IV.  Let  me  now  speak  a  word  on  the  REMEDY 
which  Christ  suggests. 

"  Is  it  so,  that  •  I  have  somewhat  against  thee  V  "  it 
is  as  though  he  had  said :  "  then  I  will  give  thee  coun- 
sel. Thou  art  not  dead.  '  I  know  thy  works,  and 
thy  labour,  and  thy  patience,  and  how  thou  canst  not 
bear'  error.  I  am  a  witness  for  thee.  Still,  because 
'  as  many  as  I  love  I  rebuke  and  chasten,'  I  tell  thee 
that  thy  first  love  is  gone,  i  counsel  thee  to  remember 
— remember  that  it  is  gone !" 

This  is  one  part  of  our  remedy — recollection. 

"  To  know  ourselves  diseas'd  is  half  our  cure !" 

There  is  quackery  in  diseases  of  the  soul,  as  well  as 
in  those  of  the  body  :  and  the  great  encouragement  to 
listen  to  it  is,  that  it  promises  great  things  ;  an  easiei' 
and  a  shorter  mode  of  cure  ;  so  beguiling  the  simple. 
And  we  see  at  this  day,  that,  when  a  decay  cannot  be 
denied  in  a  person  or  in  a  Church,  there  comes  in  the 
spiritual  quackery  of  some  new-fangled  doctrine — 
some  new  mode  of  worship — some  new  form  of  church 
government — some  new  interpretation  of  Scripture 
— and  this  is  to  heal  a  sin-sick  soui !  the  wounds, 
which  Christ  alone  can  heal  by  his  Word  and  Spirit, 
are  to  be  healed  by  such  pretended  nostrums  !  and  yel 
simple  souls  are  so  caught  by  the  marvellous,  that  they 
think  every  point  must  be  carried  because  the  man 
promises  such  great  things ! 


LOSS  OF  FIRST  LOVE. 


303 


"  But  I  only,"  says  the  Great  Physician,  "  I  only 
can  counsel  thee  to  purpose.  I  only  can  cure  thee. 
I  tell  thee,  therefore,  to  '  remember  from  whence  thou 
art  fallen.  Remember  the  kindness  of  thy  youth — 
the  love  of  thine  espousals  ;  when  thou  wentest  after 
me  into  the  wilderness — Remember  from  whence  thou 
art  fallen.'  Remember  thy  backslidings  from  me : 
lament  over  them :  confess  them  before  mc  ;  and  look 
to  God  to  enable  thee  to  take  thy  steps  with  more 
tirmness,  and  to  offer  up  thy  prayers  with  more  spirit- 
uality, and  to  '  do  the  first  works'  more  cordially. 
Make  thou  the  kingdom  of  God  and  his  righteousness 
Hiy  first  object.  I  tell  thee  to  remember  that  this  is 
so  necessary,  that,  if  there  be  not  remembrance  and 
repentance,  the  decay  will  go  on  till  you  get  into  such 
a  state,  that  '  I  will  come  and  remove  thy  candlestick 
out  of  its  place.'  " 

Take  the  counsel,  which  Christ  gives  to  another 
Church  in  decay:  'Anoint  thine  eyes  with  eye-salve, 
that  thou  mayest  see  :  buy  of  me  gold  tried  in  the  fire, 
that  thou  mayest  be  rich;  and  white  raiment,  that 
ihou  mayest  be  clothed,  and  that  the  shame  of  thy 
nakedness  do  not  appear :'  and,  •  as  ye'  first '  received 
Christ  Jesus  the  Lord,  so  walk  ye  in  him.'  Recollect 
how  you  began.  It  was  better  with  thee  then,  than 
now.  Remember  the  simplicity  of  thy  first  steps. 
Remember  the  unity  of  thy  heart  at  that  time  :  though 
thou  didst  not  know  so  much  then  as  now,  yet  thy  first 
love  was  the  best  love. 

Christ,  therefore,  is  our  remedy,  Brethren,  for  spi- 
ritual decay.  Conceal  not,  I  pray  you.  your  case  from 
him  ;  for  he  wholly  comprehends  the  disease,  and  can 
completely  instruct  us  in  the  cure.  The  Great  High 
Priest  means  our  cure  :  therefore  he  does  not  trifte 
with  the  case.  May  God  grant  that  we  may  not  trifle 
with  it !  He  counsels  us  to  come  to  him  for  recovery  : 
and  there  is  no  cure  that  he  cannot  effect,  if  thou  re- 
turnest  to  him.    He  is  Almighty  and  will  fulfil  all  that 


304 


SERMON  XXXI. 


he  bath  promised :  and,  in  returning  to  him,  thou  shalt 
be  healed. 

I  shall  conclude  with  a  word  of  ADMONITION. 

And  the  Admonition  is  that,  which  Christ  himself 
makes  use  of  in  the  seventh  verse  : — '  He,  that  hath 
an  ear,  let  him  hear  what  the  Spirit  saith  unto  the 
Churches.' 

Is  there  an  inquiring  heart  before  me  ?  A  man 
honest  to  his  convictions — who  would  save  his  soul — 
who  would  not  have  bis  soul  and  body  made  the  sport 
and  prey  of  tiends — sunk  into  that  pit  whence  there  is 
no  redemption  ? — Does  be  come  to  bear  the  counsel 
of  God?  Hath  be  an  ear  to  hear? — then  'let  him 
hear  what  the  Spirit  saith  unto  the  Churches let  him 
hear  what  Christ  saith  ;  for  it  is  Christ  that  speaks  by 
me.  I  am  a  worthless  earthen  vessel ;  but  I  speak 
the  words  of  Christ:  therefore  refuse  not  bis  word : 
refuse  not  him  that  says,  '  I  have  somewhat  against 
Ihee,  because  thou  hast  left  thy  first  love.' 

Let  us  every  one  ask,  "  What  does  conscience  say 
to  this  charge  ?  Have  vie  left  our  first  love  ?"  Then 
has  Christ  somewhat  against  ns !  '  He  is  of  one  mind, 
and  who  can  turn  him?'  What  <loes  be  say  in  the 
second  chapter  of  Jeremiah  ?  '  Hear  ye  the  word  of 
the  Lord,  O  house  of  Jacob,  and  all  the  families  of 
the  house  of  Israel.  Thus  saith  the  Lord  :  What  in- 
iquity have  your  fathers  found  in  me,  that  they  are 
gone  far  from  me,  and  have  walked  after  vanity,  and 
are  become  vain  ?'  Is  there  any  charge  against  me,  O 
perverse  generation  ?  '  Have  1  been  a  wilderness  to 
Israel  V 

This  is  the  appeal  of  God  to  Israel.  Who  then 
among  us  will  be  satisfied  with  saying,  "  No  man  can 
bring  a  charge  against  me  ?"  Who  would  be  satisfied 
with  this  ?  for,  how  many  things  are  there  in  the  de- 
cay of  the  soul,  which  the  most  penetrating  human  eye 
can  never  discover !  What ! — man ! — a  blind  creature, 
mistaking  in  every  step  ! — am  I  to  be  satisfied  because 


LOSS  OF  FIRST  LOVE. 


he  can  bring  no  charge  against  me  ?  What  would  it 
avail,  if  the  whole  world  were  to  join  to  acquit  me, 
while  Jesus  says,  "  '  I  have  somewhat  against  thee  ?'  1, 
who  search  the  heart  and  try  the  reins,  see  there  is  a 
decay :  and  I  tell  thee,  because  1  love  thee  ;  and 
would  stop  the  decay  by  calling  thee  to  recollection 
and  to  repentance." 

Is  not  this  exactly  your  conduct  toward  your  chil- 
dren, when  you  see  them  taking  a  wrong  course  .'' 
Do  not  you  talk  to  them  again  and  again  ?  And  why 
do  you  this  ?  You  do  not  take  so  much  pains  with 
other  children.  You  give  them  advice  :  but  you  re- 
peat it  again  and  again  to  your  own  children,  because 
you  love  them  better  than  you  do  the  children  of 
others. 

Remember,  then,  the  message  of  Christ,  which  you 
liave  now  heard  :  and  recollect,  that  he  sits  as  a  refi- 
ner, and  will  thoroughly  purify  his  children.  I  entreat 
you,  therefore.  Brethren,  to  seek  him,  that  he  may 
not  have  to  charge  you  with  this  also :  "  I  warned 
thee  of  thy  decay,  and  thou  neglectedst  my  warning." 

But  hear  Christ's  Encouragements,  as  well  as  his 
warnings  : — '  To  him,  that  overcometh,  will  I  give  to 
eat  of  the  Tree  of  Life,  which  is  in  the  midst  of  the 
paradise  of  God.'  "What!"  as  if  he  had  said,  "  it^ 
it  a  small  thing,  that  I  give  unto  my  people  not  as  the 
world  giveth,  that  I  mock  them  not  as  the  world  doth, 
nor  offer  them  a  momentary  gratification  like  that  of 
the  world!  '  I  will  give  to  him,  that  overcometh,  to 
eat  of  the  Tree  of  Life he  shall  derive  from  me 
•  wisdom,  and  righteousness,  and  sanctification,  and  re- 
demption :'  he  shall  '  sit  with  me  at  my  table  in  my 
kingdom.' "  What  hath  the  sensualist  or  the  hypo- 
crite to  hope  for,  compared  with  this  ?  Oh,  reflect  for 
a  moment,  '  ye  that  forget  God,  lest  he  tear  you  in 
pieces,  and  there  be  none  to  deliver.' 

My  Dear  Hearers,  the  moment  we  set  out  as  Chris- 
rians,  we  profess  to  be  armed  men — taking  unto  us 

VOL.  II.  27 


306 


SERMON  XXXI. 


the  whole  armour  of  God.  Let  us  '  run  with  pa- 
tience the  race  set  before  us,  looking  unto  Jesus :'  and. 
when  we  meet  difficult  and  rugged  road,  let  us  re- 
member the  promise — '  To  him,  that  overcometb. 
will  I  give  to  eat  of  the  Tree  of  Life.'  "  By  the  help 
of  God,  then,"  let  each  of  us  say,  "  I  will  endeavour 
to  look  up,  like  Jacob,  and  see  a  ladder  reaching  from 
heaven  to  earth,  that  1  may  climb  from  earth  to  hea- 
ven :  I  will  endeavour  to  climb  this  ladder,  taking  step 
by  step  ;  and,  if  I  can  take  but  one  step  this  month  or 
this  year,  I  will  remember  that  it  is  a  step  toward  glo- 
ry, honour  and  immortality." 

May  God,  of  his  infinite  mercy,  enable  every  one  of 
us  to  rise  from  earth,  and  to  reach  that  blessed  world ! 


SERMON  XXXIl. 


SPECIAL  SUPPORT  IN  SUFFERING. 

Revelation,  i,  17. 

\iid  when  I  saw  Him,  I  fell  at  his  feet  as  dead.  And  he  laid  his 
right-hand  upon  me,  saying  unto  me,  fear  not :  I  am  the  first  and 
the  last.  I  am  he  that  liveth,  and  was  dead  ;  and,  behold,  I  am 
alive  for  ever  more,  Amen ;  and  have  tlie  keys  of  hell  and  ol 
death. 

Before  Christ  left  the  world,  he  warned  his  disciples, 
that,  in  that  world,  they  should  have  tribulation  ;  '  but, 
be  of  good  cheer,'  he  said,  '  for  I  have  overcome  the 
Avorld,'  and  '  I  will  not  leave  you  comfortless'  in  it. 
But  he  did  more  than  encourage  them  by  words  :  for 
he  appeared  unto  Stephen,  while  his  enemies  were 
stoning  him  :  he  arrested  Paul,  when  he  was  persecu- 
ting :  and  he  visited  John,  when  he  was  suffering  in 
exile,  and  probably  in  slavery.  '  I,  John,'  says  the 
Apostle,  '  who  also  am  your  brother,  and  companion 
in  tribulation,  and  in  the  kingdom  and  patience  of  Je- 
sus Christ,  was  in  the  isle  that  is  called  Patmos,  for 
the  word  of  God,  and  for  the  testimony  of  Jesus 
Christ.  I  was  in  the  Spirit  on  the  Lord's  Day  ;  and 
heard  behind  me  a  great  voice,  as  of  a  trumpet,  saying, 
I  am  Alpha  and  Omega,  the  first  and  the  last :  and 
what  thou  seest,  write  in  a  book,  and  send  it  unto  the 
Seven  Churches  which  are  in  Asia.' 

From  these  words  I  shall  discourse  on  the  spe- 
cial SUPPORT,  WHICH  A  CHRISTIAN  MAY  EXPECT, 
IN   HIS   SUFFERINGS    FOR   CHRISt's  SAKE. 

But  who  is  the  Christian  ?  I  have  often  endeavoured 
in  this  pulpit  to  answer  the  question  ;  but  it  cannot  bo 


308 


SERMON  XXXII. 


too  often  considered  :  for,  "If  I  am  not  a  Christian,'' 
should  every  man  say,  "  I  am  dead  in  trespasses  and 
sins — I  am  in  darkness  even  tintil  now — 1  am  an  enemy 
to  God — I  am  a  child  of  the  devil :  and,  as  God  liveth. 
and  as  my  soul  liveth,  there  is  but  a  step  between  nn 
and  death  eternal."  What  an  important  question 
then  is  it,  "  Am  I  a  Christian  ?" 

A  Christian  is  a  man  convinced  by  the  word  and 
Spirit  of  God,  that  he  has  been  in  the  lost  state  jus) 
described ;  and  that,  till  God  awaken  him  to  see  and 
to  feel  and  to  confess  his  condition,  and  to  take  hold 
of  the  mercy  revealed  in  Christ,  he  was  perishing 
cVcn  as  others — in  ignoi-ance — in  enmity — in  pre- 
sumption— and,  perhaps,  even  with  '  the  form  of  God- 
liness, denying  the  power  thereof.' 

Such  a  man  is  not  now  to  be  told  that  Christianity 
is  only  a  change  of  opinion.  He  knows  that  he  was 
blind,  and  now  sees :  he  knows  that  he  was  dead  in 
sin,  and  now  lives  by  the  faith  of  the  Son  of  God :  he 
knows  that  he  was  without  hope,  and  without  God  in 
the  world  :  and  he  now  knows,  too,  that  he  has  a  hope 
full  of  immortality,  built  upon  nothing  less  firm  than 
the  truth  and  character  of  God.  Old  views,  old  idols 
are  passed  away  :  '  behold  all  things  are  become  new ; 
for  if  any  man  be  in  Christ,  he  is  a  new  creature.' 

Consider  the  Christian  as  a  sufferer.  To  this  man, 
indeed,  are  given  many  great  and  precious  promises  : 
but  not  one  that  he  shall  not  suffer  tribulation  here. 
He  is  rather  admonished,  that,  in  the  world,  he  shall 
have  tribulation :  though,  in  Christ,  he  shall  have 
peace.  He  may,  at  times,  be  so  overwhelmed  with 
views  of  himself  or  with  views  of  his  God  and  the 
path  in  which  he  leads  him,  as  to  be  ready,  like  the 
Apostle,  to  fall  down  dead  at  his  feet.  This  is  a  mat- 
ter of  experience.  The  violent  assaults  of  tempta- 
tion— the  black  suggestions  of  the  Evil  One — the 
frightful  insinuations  of  unbelief — the  sometimes  total 
deadness  and  depravity  of  the  heart — force  a  bitter 


SPECIAL  SUPPORT  IN  SUFFERING.  309 


cry  of  '  Oh  wretched  man  that  I  am,  who  shall  deliver 
me  from  the  body  of  this  death !' 

The  holiness  of  God — His  hatred  of  sin — His  for- 
mer favours — His  book  of  remembrance — His  judg- 
ment-seat— His  final  sentence,  are  so  impressed  on  the 
conscience  of  an  awakened  man,  that  there  are  mo- 
ments in  which  he  is  led  to  cry  out,  '  My  flesh  trem- 
bleth  for  fear  of  thee,  and  I  am  afraid  of  thy  judg- 
ments.   I  fell,'  says  the  Apostle,  '  at  his  feet  as  dead.' 

But  there  is,  besides  this,  the  path  of  God's  provi- 
dential dispensations — dark  and  mysterious  as  they 
sometimes  are ;  which  have  not  only  depressed,  but 
even  overwhelmed  the  best  of  men.  Jacob  was 
greatly  afraid  and  distressed  in  his  journey.  How  did 
Joshua  weep  at  the  success  of  the  men  of  Ai,  and  lie 
upon  the  earth  all  night  before  God !  Job  knew  not 
where  to  find  him,  whether  he  turned  to  the  right-hand 
or  to  the  left.  David  sunk  in  the  deep  waters  till  the 
billows  went  over  him  :  and  Elijah  said,  '  It  is  enough  : 
take  away  my  life,'  Nor  need  a  disciple  to  be  sent  a 
slave  to  Patmos,  to  sink  in  the  deep  waters  of  suffer- 
ing :  he  may  sit  at  home,  in  outward  peace  and  plenty, 
and  yet  have  a  thorn  in  his  flesh  :  a  messenger  of  Sa- 
tan may  be  sent  that  shall  cause  him,  like  St.  Paul,  to 
be  urgent  at  the  throne  of  grace  for  deliverance. 

But  why  do  I  talk  of  these  men  ?  Who  are  these  ? 
Worms,  that  might  well  tremble  and  sink.  Even  he, 
who  stood  before  John,  and  before  whose  feet  John 
fell  as  dead,  was  himself  overwhelmed,  and  said, '  Why 
hast  thou  forsaken  me  ?' 

Christians !  need  I  go  to  cases  on  record  in  the  Old 
Testament,  or  in  the  New,  in  opening  this  subject? 
What!  know  ve  not  what  it  is  to  struggle  with  the 
powers  of  darkness  ?  Know  ye  not,  what  it  is  to 
hear  his  voice  '  in  the  cool  of  the  day,'  after  the  deed 
of  sin  or  folly  is  done,  calling  after  thee  and  saying, 
'  Where  art  thou  ?'  Have  ye  never  walked  through 
'  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death,'  scarcely  knowing 

VOL.  II.  27* 


5ER.M0N  XXXII. 


)'our  own  voice  from  that  of  the  tempter's  ?  Did  yot- 
never  sink  under  an  overwhelming  trouble,  saying, 
•  All  these  things  are  against  me  ?'  Have  ye  never 
sought  the  solitary  place — for  what  ?  to  confess  your 
sin  ?  to  pray  for  deliverance  ?  to  praise  for  sparing 
snercy  ?  Yes — but  perhaps,  at  times,  to  despond — to 
pine — and  to  despair,  if  not  to  murmur.  If  you  have 
not  known  this,  the  preacher  has  too  often. 

But,  even  in  the  path  of  duty  and  devotion,  trials 
are  often  at  the  door.  The  disciples  embarked  al 
Christ's  command,  yet  the  storm  arose.  Had  nol 
John  trod  in  the  steps  of  his  Master,  he  probabh 
Mould  not  have  been  brought  to  suffer  at  Patmos. 
Let  us  not  be  afraid  of  suffering  in  such  a  path.  Lei 
lis  mark  our  encouragements — 

'  I  fell  at  his  feet  as  dead ;  but  he  laid  his  right-hand 
upon  me,  saying  unto  me,  Fear  not.' 

"I  am  here,"  as  if  the  Apostle  had  said,  "cut  ofl 
from  the  church — silenced  in  my  ministry — but  can  I 
forget  that  it  is  the  Lord's  Day  ?  May  I  not  here  bo 
m  the  Spirit  ?  Did  he  not  say,  '  I  will  not  leave  you 
orphans  V  Is  not  his  promise  enough,  though  I  see 
nothing  ?  His  presence  can  make  a  heaven  of  Pat- 
mos."  And  it  is  as  if  his  Master  had  said — " '  Fear 
not,'  John  :  '  for  I  am  with  thee  :  be  not  dismayed,  for 
I  am  thy  God.  I  will  strengthen  thee :  yea,  I  will 
help  thee  :  yea.  I  will  uphold  thee  with  the  right-hand 
of  my  righteousness.'  None  shall  silence  the  minis- 
ter whom  I  send,  nor  prevent  the  communications 
which  I  please  to  afford.  I  am  the  ladder  which  Ja- 
cob saw :  when  I  lay  in  the  manger,  I  set  the  foot  oi 
it  upon  the  earth  5  and  the  top  of  it  reaches  to  hea- 
ven, for,  '  I  am  the  Almighty.'  Write  to  the 
Churches  what  I  dictate  ;  and  thy  writing  shall  instruct 
every  Church  of  mine  that  shall  exist  in  the  world. 
1  will  open  to  thee  my  councils.  I  will  unseal  my 
providences.  Thou  shalt  see  the  vials  of  my  wrath. 
«rhich  I  pour  upon  the  ungodly :  and  thou  shalt  see 


SPECIAL  SUPPORT  IN  SUFFERING. 


311 


'  the  New  Jerusalem'  itself '  descending  from  heaven 
as  a  bride  adorned  for  her  husband,'  and  '  blessed  is  he 
that  shall  hear  and  read  the  words  of  the  prophecy  oi' 
this  book.' " 

And  what,  let  me  ask,  is  the  design  of  writing  and 
preaching  the  word  ?  Is  it  not,  that,  "  through  pa- 
tience and  comfort  of  the  Scripture,  we  might  have 
hope  ?"  Does  not  the  promise  stand  like  a  rock 
in  the  midst  of  storms  ?  '  Blessed  are  they  thai 
mourn,  for  they  shall  be  comforted.  Blessed  are  the} 
who  have  not  seen  him,  and  yet  have  believed.'  Be- 
lieved what  ?  Some  tradition,  or  history  of  Christ, 
unfelt — unemployed  ?  No  !  But,  blessed  are  they, 
who,  though  they  see  him  not,  yet  rejoice  in  the  meril 
of  his  blood — in  the  power  of  his  grace — in  his  all- 
sufficiency  to  help  and  comfort  them  in  all  dangers 
and  adversities.  Blessed  is  that  man,  who,  '  looking 
unto  Jesus,'  though  but  imperfectly,  can  say  to  Him. 
'• '  Lord,  1  believe :  help  thou  my  unbelief.'  Thou 
art  enough  for  me,  sick  and  in  prison — solitary  and 
>ore  vexed, — fallen  at  thy  feet  as  guilty  and  depraved  : 
yet,  lay  thy  hand  upon  me,  and  say  unto  me,  '  Fear 
not.'  Oh,  help  me  but  to  rest  on  what  thou  hast  said 
already  in  thy  word." 

Brethren !  the  cry  of  nature,  in  every  one  of  us,  is 
for  relief  under  our  various  troubles ;  and  yet  how 
backward  are  we  to  learn  the  method  of  obtaining  it! 
But  all  true  and  abiding  relief  must  come  to  us  as  i( 
did  to  the  afflicted  man  in  Acts  iv,  10,  11,  12.  In  this 
way  Christ '  abideth  faithful :  he  cannot  deny  himself:* 
and  he  himself  hath  said,  '  If  any  man' — pray  mark 
the  words — 'if  any  man  love  me,  my  Father  will 
love  him ;  and  we  will  come  unto  him,  and  make  our 
abode  with  him.' 

It  is  too  true,  that  unbelief,  setting  in  with  a  dark 
providence,  may  rob  the  Christian  of  the  comforts  ol 
those  truths — But — 'the  Lord  changcth  not.'  He 


312 


SERMON  XXXII. 


had  promised  deliverance  to  Israel  in  their  Egyptian 
bondage,  though  they  had  lost  all  hope  of  it.  But 
the  appointed  time  came  ;  and,  behold,  he  appears  iu 
a  bush ;  flaming,  but  unconsumed — the  emblem  of  his 
suffering  church.  '  I  have  surely  seen,'  said  he,  '  the 
affliction  of  my  people  which  are  in  Egypt,  and  have 
heard  their  cry  by  reason  of  their  task-masters  :  for  I 
know  their  sorrows,  and  1  am  come  down  to  deliver 
them.'    Exod.  iii,  7,  8. 

It  is  the  merciful  dispensation  of  a  depressed  Chris- 
tian, that,  though  he  may  forget  his  Saviour,  that  Sa- 
viour can  never  forget  himself. 

Two  desponding  disciples  may  travel  to  Emmaus. 
talking  of  one,  who,  they  thought,  would  have  re- 
deemed Israel.  And  is  it  not  so?  Had  he  not  just 
redeemed  Israel,  by  laying  down  his  life  according  to 
prophecy  ?  '  O  fools,  and  slow  of  heart  that  we  are  to 
believe  all  that  God,'  by  his  prophets,  'has  spoken!' 
After  he  has  done  all  for  us,  he  is  often  found  walking 
with  us  while  we  are  crying, '  Where  is  he  ?' 

When  Saul,  '  breathing  out  threatenings  and  slaugh- 
ter,' went  to  Damascus,  it  is  more  than  probable,  that, 
not  only  the  persecutor,  but  many  of  the  persecuted 
saints,  little  expected  that  he,  who  so  lately  expired 
on  the  cross,  would  be  so  nigh  at  hand  to  vindicate  his 
cause,  and  muzzle  the  pharisaic  tiger  bent  on  blood. 
And  how  much  less  did  they  expect,  that  he  would  then 
fulfil  that  prophecy,  '  The  wolf  shall  lie  down  with 
the  lamb  !'  and  cause  a  persecutor  to  become  both  a 
preacher  and  a  martyr  for  his  sake ! 

But  '  Christ'  is  '  the  same  yesterday,  and  to-day, 
and  for  ever :'  the  same  Saviour  in  the  burning  bush, 
or  on  the  bloody  cross :  the  same  at  Emmaus — at 
Damascus — or  in  Patmos.  However  wrong  in  our 
frames,  let  us  endeavour  to  be  right  and  firm  in  our 
principles :  and  this  is  one,  That  unbelief  is  the  liar 
and  the  robber. — but  Christ  abideth  faithful,  and  never 


SPECIAL  SUPPORT  IN  SUFFERING.  313 


did  nor  ever  can  deny  himself.  '  He,  that  hath  an 
ear,  let  him  hear  what  the  Spirit  saith  unto  the 
Churches.' 

Art  thou  a  christian  ? — for  he  only, '  that  overcom 
eth,  shall  inherit  all  things.'  Are  you  seeking  by 
Christ  to  overcome  the  world  in  its  lusts — in  its  vani- 
ties— in  its  false  religion  ?  Do  not  tell  me  that  you 
have  religion  :  so  has  the  stupid  idolater :  so  has  the 
unbelieving  Jew :  so  has  the  formalist:  so  had  they 
who  crucified  Christ :  so  had  Paul,  the  persecutor, 
when  he  was  stopped  in  his  way  to  Damascus. — I 
verily  believe  that  Satan  hath  no  more  sure  and  effec- 
tual way  of  binding  the  minds  of  men,  than  by  a 
false  and  dead  religion.  Nor  is  it  any  proof  that  you 
are  a  Christian,  because  you  are  in  trouble  ;  for  'man 
is  born  to  trouble  as  the  sparks  fly  upward,'  whether 
he  be  a  Christian  or  not.  But  the  question,  "  Are 
you  a  Christian implies,  Have  you  faith — hope — 
love?  Have  you  renounced  yourself;  both  sinful  and 
righteous  self:  and  have  you  come  as  a  perishing  sin- 
ner, to  the  foot  of  the  cross  ? — And  are  you  running 
the  race  set  before  you,  '  looking  unto  Jesus  ?'  My 
prayer  to  God  is,  that  you  may  rest  in  no  Christianity 
short  of  this ;  and  that  he  may  give  you  no  ease  till 
you  are  convinced  of  its  necessity,  and  possessed  of 
its  blessings —  that  '  both  he  that  soweth,  and  he  that 
reapeth,  may  rejoice  together.' 

Carnal — deceived  professor — awake  ! — 'Con- 
sider, all  ye  that  forget  God.'  If  one  who  had  lain  on 
the  breast  of  Christ,  and  knew  his  relation  to  him, 
yet  now  fell  at  his  feet  overwhelmed  with  his  glory, 
where  must  you  fall,  when  he  shall  come  with  greater 
glory  to  judge  the  quick  and  the  dead  ?  Did  you  ever 
consider  how  soon  you  may  be  brought  to  frightful 
solitude — to  bereavements — sickness — Death  ?  What 
IS  to  support  you  there  ?  How  awful  a  sight  have  I 
seen,  in  attending  the  death-bed  of  a  rich  man,  just 
beginning  to  discover  his  mistake  !  His  wealth  on  the 


314 


SERMON  XXXU. 


wing — his  soul  overwhelmed  with  guilt — eternity  be- 
fore him — but  no  comforter  ! — Comforter  did  I  say  ? 
— the  very  thought  of  meeting  Christ  was  his  greatest 
torment. 

But  wh}-  do  I  speak  of  others? — What  could  1 
have  done  myself  lately,  when  all  hope  of  standing 
in  this  pulpit  seemed  taken  away,  and  every  present 
comfort  seemed  to  vanish  like  a  dream  ?  "  Oh," 
thought  I,  "  that  1  could  tell  my  hearers  at  St.  John's, 
what  I  feel  of  the  worth  of  Christ,  and  of  the  support 
which  his  presence  alone  can  afford  in  extremities!" 

Ought  I  not  to  be  his  witness  ?  I  ought,  though  in 
a  lower  scene  than  that  of  the  Apostle,  to  say,  'He 
laid  his  right-hand  upon  me,  saying.  Fear  not.' 

Oh,  that  "in  the  hour  of  death  and  in  the  day  of 
Judgment,"  no  one  of  you  may  know  the  value  of  this 
support  by  the  want  of  it! 

I  speak  next  to  those  who  are  religious,  but  yet 

HAVE  NO  DISTINCT  AND  CONSOLATORY  VIEWS  OF 
CHRIST. 

But  what  is  Christianity,  without  communion  with 
the  Head  ?  I  was  much  affected  once  to  hear  a  poor 
dying  creature  say — "Ah!  sir,  you  bid  me  think  of 
God — but  who  is  he  ?  1  know  not  what  to  think  of, 
when  you  speak  of  God;  and  how  can  I  draw  com- 
fort from  such  thoughts  ?" 

God  grant  you  may  never  be  left  in  such  darkness 
In  your  extremity !  And,  in  order  that  you  may  not, 
beg  of  him  this  day  to  grant  you  his  Holy  Spirit  to 
open  and  apply  his  word.  Then  you  will  find  one 
who  is  '  Emanuel :  God  with  us.'  Then  you  will 
learn  that  '  he,  who  hath  seen  him,  hath  seen  the 
Father.' 

Christ  is  God  stooping  to  the  weakness  of  man, 
and  is  '  nigh  to  all  them  that  call  upon  him.'  En- 
deavour, therefore,  to  obtain  more  simple  and  practi- 
cal views  of  Christ.  In  order  to  this,  you  must  learn 
from  Christ's  own  word  ;  that,  '  He  is  the  bright  and 


SPECIAL  SUPPORT  IN  SL?FERli\G. 


315 


morning  star'  of  this  dark  world  :  '  He  is  the  day  spring 
from  on  high  to  visit  us  :' — A  light  '  to  them  that  sit 
in  darkness,  and  the  shadow  of  death — To  guide  our 
feet  into  the  way  of  peace.'  Or,  to  come  nearer  to 
our  text,  '  He,  that  walketh  now  amidst  the  golden 
candlesticks'  (his  churches)  is  '  the  Alpha  and  Omega. 
— the  Almighty,  who  openeth  and  none  shutteth,  and 
shutteth  and  none  openeth,  and  hath  the  keys  of  hell 
and  of  death.'  Such  an  one  can  speak  away  fear 
from  the  heart  of  his  disciple.  His  right-hand  is 
strength  :  His  encouragement  more  than  victory. 

Simple  views,  like  these,  have  met  fires  and  racks, 
dungeons  and  death,  in  every  form,  in  Britain  as  well 
as  in  Patmos,  and  have  overcome  them  all. 

Scholars  puzzle  themselves  and  others  with  large 
and  complicated  statements,  nice,  and  often  useless 
distinctions.  Brethren !  Christianity  stoops  to  the 
condition  and  capacities  of  the  weakest,  the  poorest, 
the  most  occupied,  and  the  most  illiterate  man.  Nay 
— these  men  have  derived  the  most  benefit  from 
Christ.  But  how  ?  "  I  am,"  says  the  poor  man,  "no 
scholar ;  but  I  am  a  sinner.  I  am  afflicted — I  am 
friendless — I  am  passing  from  time  to  eternity — I 
have  but  one  only  hope — '  The  Lord  thinketh  upon  me.' 
He  was  anointed  to  preach  his  Gospel  to  the  poor. 
He  said,  'Come  unto  me  all  ye  that  labour  and  are 
heavy  laden,  and  I  will  give  you  rest.'  I  will  sit  under 
his  shadow.  I  will  stand  waiting  at  the  foot  of  his 
cross. 

'  Let  me  dwell  on  Golgotha, 
'  Weep  and  love  my  life  away, 
'  While  I  see  him  on  the  tree 
'  Weep,  and  bleed,  and  die  for  mc.' 

And  here  I  know — I  know  I  shall  not  weep  and  wait 
in  vain." 

My  dear  hearers !  is  this  the  simple  religion  of  a 
DOor  man  ?  Can  you  tell  me  of  a  better  or  a  safer, 
for  a  rich  one  ?    What  would  Dives  in  torments  now 


316 


SERMON  XXXII. 


give  for  the  religion  of  Lazarus  ?  "  In  all  time  of  our 
tribulation — in  all  time  of  our  wealth — in  the  hour  of 
death  and  in  the  day  of  judgment,"  O  thou  Son  of 
David  have  mercy  on  us  :  lay  thy  right-hand  upon  us, 
and  say  unto  us — '  Fear  not.' 

But  my  subject  is  still  more  appropriate  to  those. 

WHO  ARE  CHRISTIANS  AND  WHO  MAY  HAVE  COME 
THIS  DAY  TO  THE  HOUSE  OP  GOD  IN  DEPRESSING 
CIRCUMSTANCES. 

To  such  I  would  offer  a  few  general  instructions. 

Are  you  a  Christian  indeed,  and  not  in  word  only  .■' 
Imitate  the  Apostle ;  and  stop  not,  in  your  trouble,  at 
the  immediate  instruments  of  it.  He  speaks  nothing 
of  the  men  who  adjudged  him  to  this  solitude :  he 
does  not  relate  the  particulars  of  his  hard  and  unjust 
lot.  When  we  look  so  much  at  our  adversaries,  it  is 
because  we  look  so  little  at  that  hand  in  which  is  the 
sword.  We  are  continually  erring  by  taking  this  low 
ground.  '  Wherefore  glorify  ye  the  Lord  in  the  tires  :" 
look  to  him  alone,  and  expect  him  to  walk  with  you 
in  the  fire,  and  not  a  hair  of  your  head  shall  be  singed. 
Honour  the  faithfulness  of  your  Lord,  by  expecting 
his  presence  when  you  most  need  it.  Where  did 
Moses  receive  his  first  encouraging  visitation  ?  When 
he  fled  a  trembling  exile,  and  led  a  few  sheep  in  soli- 
tude. When  was  Jacob  pronounced  '  a  prince,  and  a 
prevailer  with  God  and  man  ?'  In  the  night  of  his 
trouble,  when  he  wept  and  made  supplication  to  the 
Angel  of  the  Covenant.  When  was  Abraham  spe- 
cially blessed  and  supported  by  the  promises  ?  In  the 
mount  of  trial. 

Now  it  is  decreed,  '  Them,  that  honour  me,  I  will 
honour.'  Whatever  light,  strength,  consolation,  deh- 
verance  comes  to  man,  it  is  decreed  that  it  shall  come 
out  of  the  fulness  of  Christ.  What  then  is  the  infe- 
rence ?  Do  you  wish  this  week  to  walk  in  sunshine 
of  heart?  Look  unto  Jesus.  Would  you  obtain 
peace  and  pardon  under  a  wounded  spirit?  Look 


SPECIAL  SUPPORT  IN  SUFFERING.  317 


unto  Jesus,  and  your  burden  shall  fall  off.  Would 
you  lift  up  the  hands  that  hang  down,  and  strengthen 
the  feeble  knees  ?  Look  unto  Jesus.  Would  you 
Kun  with  patience  the  race  that  is  set  before  you  ?  It 
must  be  done  by  '  looking  unto  Jesus.'  Have  you 
lost  your  evidence  and  comfort  ?  Where  can  they  be 
recovered  but  by  '  looking  unto  Jesus.'  As  you  were 
excellently  reminded  this  day,  when  a  child  has  spill- 
ed the  water  which  it  was  fetching  from  the  fountain, 
lo  the  same  fountain  must  it  return  in  order  to  reple- 
nish its  pitcher.  May  God  the  Spirit  enable  us  ft) 
iipply  these  truths. 


701,  ir. 


SERMON  XXXIll. 


l  llE  CHRISTIAN  CONFLICT,  CONQUEST,  AM> 
CROWN. 

Rev.  hi,  21. 

I'o  him,  that  overcometh,  will  I  grant  to  sit  with  me  in  my  throne  : 
even  as  I  also  overcame,  and  am  set  down  with  my  Father  in  his 
throne. 

We  cannot,  perhaps,  discover  a  more  common  error 
among  men  than  this : — a  man  found  hoping  for  the 
end,  who  does  not  employ  the  means.  '  The  soul  of 
the  sluggard,'  saith  the  Wise  Man,  '  dcsireth  and  hath 
nothing.' 

The  text  is  connected  with  the  message  sent  to  the 
Church  at  Laodicea.  'And  unto  the  angel  of  the 
Church  of  the  Laodiceans,  write.  These  things  saith  the 
Amen,  the  faithful  and  true  witness,  the  beginning  of 
the  creation  of  God :  1  know  thy  works,  that  thou  art 
neither  cold  nor  hot.  So,  then,  because  thou  art  nei- 
ther cold  nor  hot,  1  will  spew  thee  out  of  my  mouth. 
Because  thou  sayest,  I  am  rich,  and  increased  with 
goods,  and  have  need  of  nothing :  and  knowest  not 
that  thou  art  wretched,  and  miserable,  and  poor,  and 
blind,  and  naked.  I  counsel  thee  to  buy  of  me  gold 
tried  in  the  tire,  that  thou  mayest  be  rich  ;  and  white 
raiment,  that  thou  mayest  be  clothed,  and  that  the 
shame  of  thy  nakedness  do  not  appear ;  and  anoint 
thine  eyes  with  eye-salve,  that  thou  mayest  see.  As 
many  as  1  love,  1  rebuke  and  chasten :'  We  continu- 
ally mistake  on  this  point :  we  are  apt  to  think  that 
they,  who  flatter  us  and  humour  us  in  our  sins,  are 


THE  CHRISTIAN  CONFLICT,  &c. 


319 


our  friends ;  whereas  the  true  friend  rebukes  those 
whom  he  loves :  '  Be  zealous  therefore  ;  and  repent. 
Behold,  I  stand  at  the  door,  and  knock :  if  any  man 
hear  my  voice,  and  open  the  door,  I  will  come  in  to 
iiim,  and  wiii  sup  wi*h  him,  and  he  with  me.'  Then 
he  repeats  what  occurs  at  the  end  of  almost  ever} 
message  sent  to  these  Churches, '  To  him,  that  ovcr- 
cometh' — to  the  conqueror — '  To  him,  that  over- 
cometh,  will  I  grant  to  sit  with  me  in  my  throne  ;  even 
as  I  also  overcame,  and  am  set  down  with  my  Father 
in  his  throne.  He,  that  hath  an  ear,  let  him  hear 
what  the  Spirit  saith  unto  the  Churches.' 
There  are  three  things  before  us. 

1.  A  CONFLICT  : — For  there  can  be  no  Conquest, 
but  what  first  implies  a  Conflict. 

2.  A  CONQUEST,  following  the  Conflict. 

3.  A  CROWN : — The  sitting  down  with  Chris! 
upon  his  throne.  This  Crown  he  secures  to  the 
man,  who  enters  into  the  Conflict,  and  obtains  the 
Conquest. 

I.  We  will  consider  the  CONFLICT. 

Some  one  is  to  be  contended  with :  enemies  are  to 
be  overcome :  for  conquest,  as  I  have  said,  implies 
conflict. 

The  Church  of  Laodicea  had  fallen  into  a  careless 
and  sleepy  state.  It  was  all  well ! — They  were  a 
Church  of  Christ,  and  Christ  would  take  care  of  his 
church ! — whereas  Christ  says,  "  '  I  come  as  a  refiner.' 
You  are  a  Church,  but  a  Church  of  what  kind  ?  Rise, 
and  maintain  the  conflict,  if  you  would  receive  the 
crown." 

This  conflict  will  be  in  this  world  perpetual.  Who 
can  say  that  he  has  done  conflicting,  while  he  has  to 
combat  with  the  world,  the  flesh,  and  the  devil  ?  If 
any  man  might  seem  to  have  gained  the  complete  vic- 
tory, it  must  have  been  Paul  the  Apostle,  who  '  la- 
boured more  abundantly  than  all  the  apostles :'  yet 
had  he  done  with  the  conflict  ?  No !  says  he,  "  '  Know 


320 


SERMON  XXXIIl. 


ye  not,  that  they,  which  run  in  a  race,  run  all ;  bui 
one  receiveth  the  prize  ?  so  run  that  ye  may  obtain — 
{  therefore  so  run,  not  as  uncertainly :  so  tight  I,  nol 
as  one  that  beateth  the  air :  but  I  keep  under  my  body, 
and  bring  it  into  subjection  :  lest  that,  by  any  means, 
when  I  have  preached  to  others,  I  myself  should  be  a 
cast-away.'  1  must  never  lay  down  the  conflict,  while 
I  am  in  this  world ;  but  I  must  labour  and  strive,  I 
must  run  and  fight,  and  I  must  fight  and  run,  in  order 
that  I  may  gain  the  victory." 

The  day  is  coming.  Brethren  !  which  will  declare 
the  Christian  Hero  to  be  a  Hero  indeed !  Then  shall 
his  achievements  be  recorded,  when  the  great  con- 
querors of  this  world  are  all  passed  by  and  forgotten ! 
He  shall  be  found  to  have  been  fighting  the  battles  of 
his  God — proposing  nothing  short  of  an  everlasting 
victory  over  all  his  enemies !  Then  will  he  be  found 
the  only  truly  honourable,  noble,  and  successful  con- 
flictor !  more  worthy  to  be  regarded  of  God,  of  an- 
gels, and  of  saints,  than  all  the  conquerors  who  ha\c 
glittered  on  the  page  of  history ! 

II.  We  will  consider  the  CONQUEST  here  spo- 
ken of. 

A  Christian  hopes  to  conquer,  by  simply  trusting  to 
the  Captain  of  his  Salvation — following  his  steps — 
using  his  arms — looking  up  daily  to  him  for  help  and 
strength,  that  he  may  not  contend  in  vain.  That  con- 
flict will  not  be  crowned,  which  will  not  endure  to 
the  end  ;  and,  in  order  to  endure,  it  must  have  a  right 
spirit — warrant — and  power.  The  hope,  which  we 
have,  is  this:  that  'greater  is  he,  that  is  in  us;  than 
he,  that  is  in  the  world. — I  live :  yet  not  I,  but  Christ 
liveth  in  me ;  and  the  life,  which  I  now  live  in  the 
flesh,  I  live  by  the  faith  of  the  Son  of  God.'  Christ 
is  our  strength — our  merit — our  leader, — and  our 
light  to  walk  by. 

Brethren !  in  order  to  maintain  a  conflict,  with  an} 
f»rospect  of  conquest,  Ave  must  set  out  in  the  name  ol 


THE  CHRISTIAN  CONFLICT,  .<s:e 


32} 


the  Lord  :  '  I  will  go  forth,'  says  David :  but  it  shall 
be  '  in  the  strength  of  the  Lord  God.'  In  such  a  con- 
flict as  this,  the  battle  is  not  ours,  but  God's.  A 
Christian  may  be  foiled,  indeed,  and  trodden  down; 
and  yet  he  may,  at  length,  win  the  battle  :  and  in  this 
way  of  using  his  Master's  armour,  and  treading  in  his 
steps,  he  shall  undoubtedly  gain  the  victory. 

Religion  is  a  much  more  deep  and  spiritual  warfare, 
than  many  of  you,  perhaps,  suppose.  '  We  wrestle 
not'  only  '  against  flesh  and  blood,  but  against  princi- 
palities, against  powers,  against  the  rulers  of  the  dark- 
ness of  this  world,  against  spiritual  wickedness  in  high 
places.'  But,  remember,  also,  that  your  help  hes  in 
the  power  of  God,  and  the  armour  of  righteousness 
on  your  right-hand  and  on  your  left.  Victory  is 
assured : 

"  The  feeblest  saint  shall  win  the  day, 
Though  death  and  hell  obstruct  his  way." 

If  you  ask  me  what  a  Christian  has  to  overcome,  I  an- 
swer, with  the  Apostle,  '  This  is  the  victory,  which 
overcometh  the  world,  even  our  faith.  The  \ForId 
is  the  Christian's  grand  enemy.  There  Satan  is  dis- 
playing his  baits  before  the  eyes  of  men  ;  ever  crying, 
as  it  were,  ''Look  here! — Look  there!"  There,  the 
Flesh  is  alarmed  by  frowns  and  allured  by  favours  :  its 
reasonings — its  sensualities — are  all  called  into  action 
there.  There,  are  ten  thousand  deceits  suited  to  dif- 
lerent  frames  and  constitutions.  Satan  has  his  snares 
for  the  young  man,  and  his  snares  for  the  old  :  he  has 
something  for  the  depressed,  to  sink  them  into  despon- 
dency ;  and  something  for  the  proud  and  presump- 
tuous, to  push  them  on  to  ruin.  We  have  to  meet  the 
day  in  which  we  live,  with  its  errors  and  e\il  customs  : 
and  we  have  to  encounter  the  difficulties  peculiar  to 
our  individual  path — peculiar  to  the  dispensation  ol' 
Providence  under  which  we  are  cast.  Painful,  tedi- 
ous, and  puzzling  discouragements,  perhaps,  make  the 
pilgrim  weary  because  of  the  way.  DifRcultics  rise 
vni..  II.  28* 


SERMON  XXXIII. 


jip  in  the  family,  and  difficulties  in  our  profession  : 
there  are  different  things  at  different  times,  all  oi 
which  have  a  united  influence  in  stopping  the  Chris- 
tian Soldier  in  his  course.  But — '  To  him,  that  over- 
cometh,  will  I  grant  to  sit  with  me  in  my  throne !' 

While  we  are  stating  the  difficulties  of  the  Chris- 
tian warfare,  some  one  may,  perhaps,  say,  "  You 
alarm  me ! — What  am  I,  a  feeble  and  helpless  crea- 
ture, to  do  under  such  difficulties  ?" — Of  yourself, 
nothing  at  all !  You  are  not  called  to  tight  in  your  own 
strength  ;  nor  to  carry  on  this  war  at  your  own  charge. 
But,  Brethren !  attend  to  this  peculiarity  of  the  Gos- 
pel :  it  places  things  before  your  eyes  in  their  true  co- 
lours. An  enemy  is  aiming  at  the  life  of  your  souls  ; 
but,  when  God  speaks  of  victory  over  him,  he  speaks 
of  what  he  promises  strength  to  achieve,  provided  we 
war  according  to  his  command. 

Observe  the  promise :  '  To  him,  that  overcometh. 
will  I  grant  to  sit  with  me  in  my  throne,  even  as  1  also 
overcame,  and  am  set  down  with  my  Father  in  hi> 
throne.'  You  are  to  conquer,  as  Christ  conquered 
— expecting  the  Holy  Spirit  to  work  in  your  souls, 
what  it  wrought  in  Him  when  it  raised  him  from  the 
dead. 

In  the  twelfth  chapter  of  this  book,  we  read,  '  1 
heard  a  loud  voice  saying  in  heaven.  Now  is  come 
salvation,  and  strength,  and  the  kingdom  of  our  God. 
and  the  power  of  his  Christ ;  for  the  accuser  of  our 
brethren  is  cast  down,  which  accused  them  before  our 
God  day  and  night.  And  they  overcame  him' — but 
how  ?  1  particularly  call  your  attention  to  the  means 
of  their  victory — '  They  overcame  him,  by  the  blood 
of  the  Lamb,  and  by  the  word  of  their  testimony,  and 
they  loved  not  their  lives  unto  the  death.' 

They  overcame  by  the  blood  of  the  lamb. 
Satan  might  charge  guilt  on  the  conscience,  and 
attempt  to  drive  them  away  in  despair :  he  might  tell 
i]\em  there  was  no  hope,  and  tempt  them  to  cast  awa^ 


THE  CHRISTIAN  CONFLICT,  &c. 


323 


their  confidence.  But  they  would  point  '  to  the  blood 
of  the  Lamb :'  to  the  infinite  merit  of  the  atoning 
Saviour :  to  the  obedience  by  which  many  become 
righteous :  to  the  ransom  found  by  God.  They 
might  say,  '  If  God  be  for  us,  who  can  be  against  us  ? 
He,  that  spared  not  his  own  Son,  but  delivered  him 
up  for  us  all,  how  shall  he  not  with  him  also  freely 
give  us  all  things  ?  Who  shall  lay  any  thing  to  the 
charge  of  God's  elect  ?  It  is  God  that  justifieth.' 
They  overcame  him  '  by  the  blood  of  the  Lamb.' 

They  overcame,  by  the  word  of  their  testi- 
mony. While  Satan  was  sowing  tares,  and  trying  to 
confound  the  truth,  they  were  steadfast  in  confessing 
Christ  before  men.  They  spake  his  truths  :  they  held 
fast  these  truths :  on  these  they  lived,  and  by  them 
they  overcame. 

And    THEY    LOVED    NOT    THEIR    LIVES   UNTO  THE 

DEATH.  As  if  they  should  say,  "  Of  what  importance 
is  it  whether  we  live  or  die  ?  '  If  we  live,  we  live 
unto  the  Lord ;  and,  if  we  die,  we  die  unto  the 
Lord ;'  the  sooner  we  die,  the  sooner  we  shall  be 
glorified — shall  begin  the  praises  of  God  and  of  the 
Lamb.  Of  what  value  then  are  our  lives  to  us  ? 
Let  us  take  hold  of  life  eternal !  Let  no  man  take 
our  crown !" 

This  conquest  proceeds  upon  a  very  different  prin- 
ciple from  every  other.  It  is  pursued,  and  in  some 
degree  obtained  and  enjoyed,  in  this  world;  but  ii 
has  its  completion  when  Christ  says,  "  '  Well  done,' 
good  and  faithful  soldier!  thou  hast  fought  the  good 
light !  thou  hast  kept  the  faith !  I  have  no  more  for 
thee  to  do  on  earth:  come  up  and  take  thy  crown!" 
for — '  To  him,  that  overcometh,  will  I  grant  to  sit  with 
me  in  my  throne,  even  as  I  also  overcame,  and  am  sel 
down  with  my  Father  iti  his  throne.' 

III.  Here  is  not  only  a  Conflict  implied,  and  a 
Conquest  mentioned,  but  a  CROWN  that  shall  he 
bestowed. 


324 


SERMON  XXXIII. 


In  reading  the  Scriptures,  we  find  some  things  men- 
tioned historically  ;  and  some  incidentally,  as  it  were. 
They  are  truths,  but  not  truths  of  prime  importance : 
they  do  not  enter  into  the  life  of  religion.  But  there 
are  other  truths,  which  recur  again  and  again,  and 
sometimes  several  times  in  the  same  chapter,  because 
they  are  of  primary  value  :  they  should  never  be  ab- 
sent from  our  minds.  Is  not  this  exactly  our  method 
with  our  children  ?  While  we  give  them  man> 
instructions,  those  things,  which  are  indispensable, 
we  strive  to  rivet  on  their  hearts,  by  continual 
repetition. 

Mark  the  expression  in  the  text.  As  '  we  labour, 
that,  whether  present  or  absent,  we  may  be  accepted 
of  him,'  before  whom  we  must  all  shortly  appear ;  as 
we  are  'looking  for  and  hasting  to  the  coming  of  the 
Son  of  God' — the  hope  of  eternal  life,  and  a  crown  of 
glory ;  our  Master  meets  us  on  the  way.  and  again  and 
again  does  he  S5)eak  of  '  the  end  of  our  faith,  even  the 
salvation  of  our  souls.' 

Look,  for  instance,  into  the  second  and  third  chap- 
ters. '  He.  that  hath  an  ear,  let  him  hear  what  the 
Spirit  saith  unto  the  Churches :  To  him  that  over- 
coMETH,  will  1  give  to  eat  of  the  Tree  of  Life,  which 
is  in  the  midst  of  the  paradise  of  God.'  Again  :  '  He. 
that  hath  an  ear,  let  him  hear  what  the  Spirit  saith 
nnto  the  Churches :  He,  that  overcometh.  shall  not 
be  hurt  of  the  second  death.'  Again  :  '  He,  that  hath 
an  ear,  let  him  hear  what  the  Spirit  saith  unto  the 
Churches :  To  him,  that  overcometh,  will  I  give  to 
eat  of  the  hidden  manna  ;  and  I  will  give  him  a  white 
stone,  and  in  the  stone  a  new  name  written,  which  no 
man  knoweth  saving  he  that  receiveth  it.'  Again : 
•  And  he,  that  overcometh,  and  keepeth  my  words 
unto  the  end,  to  him  will  1  give  power  over  the  na- 
tions ;  and  he  shall  rule  them  with  a  rod  of  iron — and 
I  will  give  him  the  morning  star.'  Again  :  '  He,  thai 
overcometh,  the  same  shall  be  clothed  in  white  rai- 


THE  CIllUSTIAN  COiNfLlCT,  kc. 


3-20 


ment ;  and  I  will  not  blot  his  name  out  of  the  book  oi 
life ;  but  I  will  confess  his  name  before  my  Father, 
and  before  his  angels.'  Again:  'Him,  that  over- 
coMETH,  will  I  make  a  pillar  in  the  temple  of  my 
God,  and  he  shall  go  no  more  out :  and  I  will  write  up- 
on him  the  name  of  my  God,  and  the  name  of  the  cit) 
<3f  my  God,  which  is  New  Jerusalem,  which  cometh 
down  out  of  heaven  from  my  God ;  and  1  will  write 
upon  him  my  new  name.'  And  again,  in  the  text : 
•  To  him,  that  overcometh,  will  I  grant  to  sit  with 
me,  in  my  throne,  even  as  I  also  overcame,  and  am 
set  down  with  my  Father  in  his  throne.' 

I  have  shown  you  how  the  blessing  is  marked  and 
repeated ;  but  if  you  were  to  ask  me  the  precise 
meaning  of  the  terms  here  employed  to  show  the 
eternal  weight  of  reward  which  awaits  the  Christian 
Soldier,  perhaps  I  should  say.  No  matter !  it  is  enough, 
that  HE — the  Great  Captain  of  our  Salvation — knows 
the  full  meaning  of  them ;  and  that  they  all  imply 
what  he  calls  his  glory  :  '  Father,  I  will  that  they  also 
whom  thou  hast  given  me  be  with  me  where  I  am,  that 
they  may  behold'  my  glory.  It  is  enough  that  he 
knows,  and  that  we  shall  know,  although  as  yet  '  eye 
hath'not  seen,  nor  ear  heard,  neither  have  entered  into 
the  heart  of  man,  the  things  which  God  hath  prepared 
for  them  that  love  him.'  These  are  all  terms,  how- 
ever, inviting  him  to  conquer,  '  whom  the  King  de- 
lighteth  to  honour:'  and,  therefore,  let  us  conceive 
never  so  highly,  no  idea  that  we  can  entertain  can 
ever  come  near  to  the  glory  of  the  crown  which  God 
hath  promised. 

Brethren !  it  is  by  conflict  and  by  conquest,  as  you 
see,  that  a  Christian  is  conformed  to  his  Lord  and 
Head.  Even  as,  says  he — Even  as  /overcame,  so 
must  you  ;  for  a  Christian  fights  for  his  life.  "  Tell 
me  not,"  will  he  say,  "  of  the  difficulties  which  may 
stand  in  my  way !    Will  God  fight  for  me  ?    Will  he 


326 


SERMON  XXXIII. 


enable  me  to  overcome  ?  Is  he  faithful  ?  Is  he  to  be 
trusted  ?  Sin  and  Satan  have  held  me  captive  :  but 
they  have  only  sunk  me,  and  would  have  sunk  me  to 
the  depths  of  heli :  but  my  Master — my  example 
star  . Is  before  me :  he  went  forth  through  trial  and 
coiidict :  he  fought  the  good  fight  of  faith,  and  we. 
his  disciples,  are  following  him." 

Brethren  !  whatever  short  roads  to  heaven  may  be 
invented  by  sects  and  parties.  Ancient  Christianity, 
the  good  old  way,  is  the  way  of  the  cross — the  way  of 
contest  and  of  conquest.  '  This  is  a  faithful  saying' 
— some  may  arise  in  the  Church  who  will  contradict 
this — but.  whatever  they  say,  '  This  is  a  faithful  say- 
ing :  If  we  be  dead  with  him,  we  shall  also  live  with 
him  :  if  we  suffer,  we  shall  also  reign  with  him  :  if  we 
deny  him,  he  also  will  deny  us.' 

Should  any  one  say,  "  Oh,  that  this  was  not  so  true 
as  it  is !  And  yet  it  seems  so  plain,  that  I  cannot  deny 
it.  I  would  escape  this  conflict :  I  would  not  weather 
these  trials  :  I  would  not  pass  through  the  fire  and  the 
water,  in  my  way  to  the  kingdom" — I  ask.  my  bro- 
ther! are  not  you  like  the  soldier  who  should  say, 
''  Oh,  that  I  might  be  a  soldier,  but  never  fight  ?  Oh, 
that  I  might  eat  the  king's  bread,  and  wear  his  clothes, 
but  never  fight  his  battles  ?"    Is  this  a  soldier  ? 

My  dear  hearers,  let  us  abide  by  the  truth.  No- 
thing else  will  support  us.  We  may  bow  to  the  truth, 
but  it  will  not  bow  to  us :  if  we  stand  by  it,  it  will 
stand  by  us.  And  the  truth  is,  that  our  posts,  as 
Christians,  are  posts  of  honour  and  of  danger :  and  if 
there  had  not  been  something  to  strive  with,  the  Apos- 
tle had  not  said,  '  Stand  fast !  quit  you  like  men !'  nor 
would  another  have  said,  '  Blessed  is  the  man  that  en- 
dureth  temptation.' 

I  say  not  these  things  to  alarm  or  to  discourage  you. 
Nay,  I  say.  Fear  not  any  consequences,  if  you  are 
honest  and  in  earnest.    Tearfulness,  as  well  as  pre- 


THE  CHRISTIAN  CONFLICT,  &c. 


327 


sumption,  is  a  temptation.  In  that  dreadful  cata- 
logue, given  in  the  twenty-first  chapter,  of  those  who 
•  shall  have  their  part  in  the  lake  which  burnetii  with 
(ire  and  brimstone' — terrible  as  that  list  is — among 
them  stand  the  fearful! 

Remember,  then,  that,  if  we  are  called  to  trial, 
Christ  is  no  unconcerned  spectator.  St.  Paul  prayed 
to  him  in  his  contest,  but  he  said,  "  '  My  grace  is  suffi- 
cient— my  strength  is  made  perfect  in  weakness.' 
Fear  not  a  thorn  in  the  flesh.  Fear  not  the  bufletings 
of  Satan.  This  is  the  way  of  safety — the  conse- 
crated way — the  work  of  Christ's  soldiers :  and 
my  soldiers  shall  ever  hear  my  voice,  saying,  '  My 
grace  is  sufficient :'  but,  still,  the  decree  has  gone 
forth ;  that  it  is  by  conflict  and  conquest,  that  a  Chris' 
tian  is  conformed  to  his  Head,  and  obtains  the  crown 
of  glory." 

"  I  meet,"  says  the  Christian — I  am  now  speaking 
the  language  of  a  faithful  soldier  of  Christ,  millions 
of  whom  have  passed  over  the  stage  of  life,  and 
have  entered  the  rest  which  remains  for  God's  sol- 
diers, have  fought  the  fight  of  faith,  finished  the 
course,  and  received  the  crown — "  I  meet,"  says 
such  an  one,  "  with  many  sharp  conflicts — hard  bat- 
tles 1  know — I  find  that  religion  will  cost  me  some- 
thing: but  oh  how  small  the  cost,  in  comparison  with 
what  I  must  pay  if  I  do  not  overcome !  If  I  do  not 
conquer,  I  must  be  conquered :  and  I  know  the 
dreadful  consequences  of  being  conquered  by  such 
an  enemy  as  Satan.  Tell  me  not,  therefore,  what  I 
have  to  fight  with,  and  to  fight  through ;  for,  in  the 
strength  of  Christ,  I  shall  win  the  day !  When  the 
the  battle  is  over,  I  shall  reign  with  him !  1  shall  see 
his  face !  I  shall  join  the  the  '  hundred  and  forty 
and  four  thousand  followers  of  the  Lamb !  He 
will  say  to  me,  when  all  is  over,  '  Well  done !' 
f  shall  enter  into  the  joy  of  the  Lord!    I  shall 


;328 


SElliMOiN  XXXIU. 


stand  among  them,  'which  came  out  of  great  tri- 
bulation, and  washed  their  robes  in  the  blood  of  the 
Lamb !' " 

God  grant  that  you  and  I  may  set  our  seals  to  this 
testimony !  and,  if  we  have  been  mingling  with  the 
world  in  search  of  our  satisfactions,  that  we  may  now 
arise,  and  trim  our  lamps,  aiul  stand  ready  to  meet  the 
bridegroom !    Amen ! 


A 


FRIENDLY  VISIT 


TO  THE 


HOX7SI:  OF  mouKxriiTG. 


.'.v  THE  Day  of  Adversity  Consider. ...JSrd.  vii.  1<; 

Many  are  the  sayings  of  the  Wise, 

In  ancient  and  in  modern  books  enroU'd, 

Extolling  Patience  

But  to  th'  afflicted  in  his  pangs  their  sound 

Little  prerails  :  or  rather  seems  a  tune 

Harsh,  and  of  dissonant  mood  from  his  complaint-. 

Unless  he  feels  within 

Some  source  of  consolation  from  above  ; 

Secret  refreshings  that  repair  his  strength. 

And  fainting  spirits  uphold. ,...>/i7?ow. 


vor,.  ll. 


29 


FRIENDLY  VISIT, 

ire. 


VoLR  present  affliction,  my  dear  friend,  demands 
something  more  than  the  usual  forms  of  condolence. 
Sorrow,  which,  like  yours,  cannot  be  prevented, 
may  yet  be  alleviated  and  improved.  This  is  my  de- 
sign in  addressing  you  ;  and,  if  I  seem  to  intrude  upon 
your  retirement,  let  my  motive  be  my  apology.  Hav- 
ing felt  how  much  '  better  it  is  to  go  to  the  house  of 
mourning  than  to  the  house  of  feasting,'  (Eccl.  vii,  2); 
having  received  my  best  Lessons,  Companions,  and 
even  Comforts,  in  it;  I  would  administer  from  my 
little  stock  of  experience :  and,  while  I  thus  endea- 
vour to  assist  your  meditations,  shall  rejoice  if  I  may 
contribute,  though  but  a  mite,  to  your  comfort. 

Were  I,  indeed,  acquainted  with  the  peculiar  cir- 
cumstances of  your  loss,  I  should  employ  particular 
considerations.  But  my  present  address  can  have 
only  a  general  aim  :  which  is  to  acquaint  the  heart,  at 
a  favourable  moment,  with  its  grand  concerns  ;  to  give 
it  a  serious  impression,  when  softened,  and  a  heavenly 
direction,  when  moved.  Let  us,  therefore,  sit  down 
humbly  together  in  this  House  of  Mourning.  If  '  the 
heart  of  the  wise  be  found'  here,  (Eccl.  vii,  4)  your 
experience,  I  hope,  will  prove  that  here  also  it  is 
formed: — and  let  us  calmly  contemplate  some  mo- 
mentous Objects  intimately  connected  with  it,  and 
\ifwed  with  peculiar  advantage  from  it. 


332 


MISCELLANIES. 


Our  god  is  the  first  of  these  objects  :  with  Him 
wc  seldom  form  any  close  acquaintance  till  we  meet 
him  in  trouble.  lie  commands  silence  now,  that  He 
may  be  heard ;  and  removes  intervening  objects,  that 
He  may  be  seen.  A  Sovereign  Disposer  appears, 
who,  as  '  Lord  of  all,'  hath  only  resumed  what  he 
lent ;  whose  will  is  the  law  of  his  creatures,  and  who 
expressly  declares  his  will  in  the  present  affliction. 
We  should  seriously  consider  that  all  allowed  repug- 
nance to  the  determinations  of  his  government,  how- 
ever made  known  to  us,  is  sin  ;  and  that  every  wish  to 
alter  the  appointments  of  his  wisdom,  is  folly  : — 
•  we  know  not  what  we  ask.'  When  God  discovers 
himself  in  any  matter,  they,  who  know  him,  '  will 
keep  silence  before  him  :'  Hab.  ii,  20.  "  Shall  he 
that  contendeth  with  the  Almighty  instruct  him  ?' 
How  just  was  the  reply  !  '  Behold  I  am  vile !  whai 
shall  I  answer  thee  ?  I  will  lay  my  hand  upon  my 
mouth :'  Job  xl,  2,  4. 

This  silent  submission  under  trying  dispensations, 
is  variously  exemplified,  as  well  as  inculcated  in  the 
Scriptures.  An  awful  instance  of  sin  and  sorrow  oc- 
curs in  the  family  of  Aaron :  his  sons  disregarded  a 
divine  appointment,  and  '  there  went  out  fire  from  the 
Lord  and  devoured  them  ;  but  Aaron  held  his  peace 
Lev.  X,  2,  3. — Eli,  in  similar  circumstances,  silenced 
his  heart  with  this  single  but  sufficient  consideration. 
'It  is  the  Lord:'  1  Sam.  iii,  18. — David,  under  a 
stroke  which  he  declares  consumed  him,  observes,  "  I 
was  dumb,  I  opened  not  my  mouth,  because  thou 
didst  it:'  Ps.  xxxix,  9. — And  Job,  when  stript  of 
every  comfort,  blessed  the  name  of  him  who  took 
away,  as  well  as  gave  :  Job,  i,  21. — Whatever  be  the 
nature  of  your  calamity,  may  it  be  attended  with  such 
an  humble  and  child-like  spirit  as  these  holy  men 
possessed ! 

But  the  Sovereign  Disposer  is  also  the  Compassiox- 
iTr  Father.    Among  other  instances  of  his  tendrr 


VISIT  TO  THE  HOUSE  OF  MOURNING.  333 


iiess,  you  may  have  observed  the  peculiai-  supports 
which  he  affords  under  peculiar  trials.  Let  us  mark 
and  acknowledge  the  hand,  which  mingles  mercy  with 
judgment,  and  alleviation  with  distress.  The  parents 
1  have  just  mentioned  lost  their  children  under  circum- 
stances far  more  distressing  than  yours.  The  desire 
of  your  eyes  (if  not  the  idol  of  your  heart)  was,  per- 
haps, almost  a  stranger:  you  strove  hard  to  detain  it, 
but  He,  who  took  the  young  children  into  his  arms 
and  blessed  them,  took  yours ;  and,  taking  it,  seemed 
to  say,  " '  What  1  do  thou  knowest  not  now,  but  thou 
shalt  know  hereafter:'  (John  xiii,  7.)  Patiently  '  suf- 
fer this  little  one  to  come  unto  me,  for  of  such  is  my 
kingdom' composed :  (Matt,  xix,  14.)  'Verily  I  say 
unto  you,  that  in  heaven  their  angels  do  always  be- 
hold the  face  of  my  father!'  (Matt,  xviii,  10.)  If  I 
take  away  your  child.  I  take  it  to  myself.  Is  not  this 
infinitely  beyond  any  thing  you  could  do  for  it  ?  Could 
)ou  say  to  it,  if  it  had  lived.  Thou  shalt  '  weep  no 
more :  the  days  of  thy  mourning  are  ended  ?'  (Isa. 
XXX,  19.)  Could  you  show  it  any  thing  in  this  world 
like  the  glory  of  God,  and  of  the  lamb  ?'  Rev.  xxii, 
3.)  Could  you  raise  it  to  any  honour  here  like  '  re- 
ceiving a  crown  of  life  ?'  "  James  i,  12. 

The  voice  of  a  '  Father  of  mercies  and  a  God  of 
all  comfort,'  (2  Cor.  i,  3,)  speaks  as  distinctly  in  the 
death  as  in  the  birth  of  an  infant.  A  '  voice  was 
heard  in  Ramah,  lamentation,  and  bitter  weeping: 
Rachel,  weeping  for  her  children,  refused  to  be  com- 
forted, because  they  were  not.  Thus  saith  the  Lord, 
Refrain  thy  voice  from  weeping,  and  thine  eyes  from 
tears,  for  there  is  hope  in  thine  end,  saith  the  Lord, 
that  thy  children  shall  come  again  to  their  own  bor- 
der:' Jer.  xxxi,  15,  16.  'It  is  not  the  will  of  your 
heavenly  Father  that  one  of  these  little  ones  should 
perish:'  Matt,  xviii,  14. 

Is  it  a  pious  friend  that  has  just  yielded  up  his 
breath  ?    The  same  voice  seerns  to  say,  "  Turn  from 

vor..  11.  29* 


334 


MISCELLANIES. 


him:"  or,  rather,  "Turn  from  his  'clay,'  his  faded 
garment.' — '  He  himself  '  is  taken  from  the  evil  to 
come  :  he  is  entered  into  peace  :'  "  Isa.  Ivii,  1,  2. 

When  the  able  Minister,  the  exemplary  Parent,  or 
the  faithful  Partner  depart,  a  consternation  often 
seizes  tlie  circles  which  they  blessed.  We  are  so 
stunned  by  the  sudden  blow,  or  so  occupied  with  the 
distressing  circumstances,  that  we  scarcely  can  hear 
God  saying,  " '  Fear  not,  I,  even  I,  am  he  that  com- 
forteth  you:'  Isa.  li,  12.  I,  your  Father,  am  yet 
alive.  I  gave  you  your  departed  friend.  I  sent  ever} 
benefit  which  was  conveyed  through  him.  Trust  me 
for  blessings  yet  in  store.  Trust  me  with  him,  and 
with  yourselves." 

Whatever  notions  one  who  lives  '  without  God  in 
the  world'  may  form  of  dying,  We  should  learn  from 
his  word  to  regard  the  departure  of  the  just  merely  as 
a  Translation ; — a  change,  in  which  nothing  is  lost 
which  is  really  valuable.  As  surely  as  we  '  believe 
that  Jesus  died  and  rose  again,'  so  surely  do  we  be- 
lieve that  '  them  also  which  sleep  in  Jesus  will  God 
bring  with  him:'  1  Thess.  iv,  14.  Taught  of  God, 
we  should  view  Losses,  Sickness,  Pain  and  Death,  but 
as  the  several  trying  stages  by  which  a  good  man,  like 
Joseph,  is  conducted  from  a  Tent  to  a  Court : — Sin. 
his  disorder;  Christ,  his  physician;  Pain,  his  medi- 
cine ;  the  Bible,  his  support ;  the  Grave,  his  bed  ;  and 
Death  itself,  an  Angel,  expressly  sent  to  release  the 
worn-out  Labourer,  or  crown  the  faithful  Soldier.  '  I 
heard  a  voice  from  heaven  saying  unto  me.  Write, 
blessed  are  the  dead  which  die  in  the  Lord  from 
henceforth :  Yea,  saith  the  Spirit,  that  they  may  rest 
from  their  labours;  and  their  works  follow  them:' 
Rev.  xiv,  13. 

But,  admitting  the  state  of  your  departed  friend  to 
be  doubtful,  yet,  in  all  cases  that  are  really  so,  let  us 
cultivate  honourable  thoughts  of  God :  let  us  remem- 
ber the  Faithful  Creator.    Righteousness  is  his 


VISIT  TO  THE  HOUSE  OF  MOURNING.  336 


throne,  though  clouds  surround  it.  Whatever  he  has 
left  obscure,  we  may  safely  leave  him  to  explain.  Let 
us  recollect,  that,  amidst  innumerable  obscurities,  he 
hath  made  things  clear  in  proportion  as  they  are  im- 
portant :  and  therefore  repeatedly  urges  it  upon  our 
consciences,  that  the  door  is  still  open  to  us  ; — that  il 
is  awful  to  stand  before  it  unresolved  ; — that  we  must 
trust  him  to-day ;  and  that  to-morrow  he  will  equally 
remove  our  conjectures  and  our  complaints. 

Perhaps  you  are  ready  to  reply,  '"I  have  heaid 
many  such  things  :'  and  '  I  also  could  speak  as  you  do, 
if  your  soul  were  in  my  soul's  stead,'  Job  xvi,  2,  4  : 
but  my  heart  and  my  expectations  are  so  crushed  by 
this  blow,  that  I  can  hear  nothing  but  '  Thy  bruise  is 
incurable,  and  thy  wound  grievous :  thou  hast  no 
healing  medicines  :"  '  Jer.  xxx,  12,  13. 

Beware,  however,  of  falling  into  their  sin  who  'li- 
mited the  Holy  One  of  Israel :'  Ps.  Ixxviii,  41 .  There 
is  a  charge  continually  brought  against  man,  that,  in 
his  troubles,  the  Source  and  the  Resource  are  equally 
lorgotten.  '  Though  affliction  cometh  not  forth  of  the 
dust yet  '  none  saith  where  is  God  my  Maker,  who 
giveth  Songs  in  the  night?'  Job  v,  6  ;  xxx,  10.  En- 
deavour, then,  in  extremities,  to  recollect  an  All-suf- 
ficient Friend  a  very  present  Help  in  trouble. 

He,  at  least,  may  add,  (as  he  does  in  the  passage  just 
alluded  to)  '  1  will  restore  health  unto  thee,  and  I  will 
heal  thee  of  thy  wounds :  saith  the  Lord.'  Cannot 
the  voice  which  rebuked  a  tempestuous  sea  calm  our 
troubled  spirits  ?  Is  his  hand  shortened  at  all,  that  he 
cannot  '  bless  our  latter  end,'  like  Job's,  '  more  than 
the  beginning?'  Job  xlii,  12.  Is  it  not  the  Lord, 
'  that  maketh  poor  and  maketh  rich  ;  that  bringeth  low 
and  lifteth  up  ?'  1  Sam.  ii,  7.  Many,  whose  hearts 
have  been  desolate  like  yours,  while  they  have  looked 
around,  have  at  length  '  looked  upward  unto  Him  and 
been  lightened :'  Ps.  xxxiv,  5.  A  single  promise  has 
afforded  them  not  only  relief,  but  «trong  consolation. 


336 


MISCELLANIES. 


Let  us,  therefore,  my  dear  friend,  '  turn  again  to  this 
strong-hold  as  prisoners  of  hope.  Even  to-day  can  he 
render  double  to  us:'  Zech.  ix,  12.  Let  us  look  to 
Abraham'' s  God,  and  his  encouragement  is  ours :  *  Fear 
not:  I  am  God  Almighty  :'  Gen.  xvii,  1.  q.  d.  "I 
am  all-sufficient  in  all  cases.  1  am  enough ;  '  and 
able  to  do  exceeding  abundantly  above  all  that  you 
ask  or  think  :'  Eph.  iii,  20.  I  have  taken  away  thy 
Gourd,  but  dost  thou  well  to  be  angry  ?  Have  I  left 
nothing  for  thankfulness  ?  This  world,  however,  can- 
not be  your  home,  nor  its  objects  your  consolofion : 
they  are  all  too  poor  for  the  soul  of  man.  'Look 
unto  me  and  be  saved  :'  Isa.  xlv,  22.  '  Acquaint  thy- 
self with  Me  and  be  at  peace  :'  Job  xxii,  21.  '  Follow 
Me  and  you  shall  not  walk  in  darkness,  but  have  the 
light  of  life:'  John  viii,  12.  However  dark  and  dis- 
tressing the  present  state  of  things  may  appear,  '  com- 
mit thy  fatherless  children  to  my  care,  I  will  preservt 
them  alive ;  and  let  the  widows  trust  in  Me  " 
Jer.  xlix,  1 1. 

Still,  the  beloved  object  is  gone,  and  your  heart  fol- 
lows it.  You  can  scarcely  receive  counsel  from  infi- 
nite Wisdom,  or  comfort  from  Omnipotence.  To 
every  fresh  encouragement  you  are  ready  to  reply. 
■  Wilt  thou  show  wonders  to  the  dead  ?  Shall  the  dead 
arise  and  praise  thee  ?  Shall  thy  loving  kindness  be 
declared  in  the  grave,  or  thy  faithfulness  in  destruc- 
tion ?'  Ps.  Ixxxviii,  10,  11.  His  word  repeatedly  as- 
sures you  they  shall ;  and  that  '  all  that  are  in  the 
graves  shall  hear  his  voice:'  John  v,  28.  But  it  in- 
forms you  also,  that  he  can  do  abundantly  more  for 
the  living  than  merely  restore  their  dead  friends,  or  re- 
vive their  fainting  spirits  :  it  teaches  you  that  He  can 
sanctify  the  separation ;  that  he  can  give  a  divine  life 
to  the  survivor,  'though  dead  in  trespasses  and  sins,' 
Eph.  ii,  1,  and  inseparably  unite  both  in  his  kingdom. 
— If  the  Comforter  could  make  up  for  the  loss  of 
r7;/vV/'5  bodily  presence  :  yea.  make  it  even  'expcdi- 


VISIT  TO  THE  HOUSE  OF  -MOURNING.  337 


ent  that  he  should  go  away,'  John  xvi,  7  ;  how  much 
more  can  he  supply  the  place  of  every  creature ! 

May  this  Comforter,  writing  his  word  in  your 
mind,  help  you  to  say  with  a  confidence  highly  ho- 
nourable to  himself  and  his  Gospel,  '■  My  perishing 
i<ourd  is,  indeed,  withered  a  day  before  I  expected  it : 
my  broken  reed  is  gone  ;  but  God  is  left. — '  a  father  to 
the  fatherless, — a  husband  to  the  widow :'  Ps.  Ixviii, 
5.  '  And  now.  Lord,  what  wait  I  for  ?  truly  my  hope 
is  in  thee  :'  Ps.  xxxix,  7.  Thou  canst  give  me, '  in  thy 
house,  a  place  and  a  name  better  than  of  sons  and  of 
daughters,'  even  '  an  everlasting  name,  which  shall  not 
be  cut  off :'  Isa.  Ivi,  5.  And,  therefore,  '  though  the 
fig-tree  shall  not  blossom,  neither  shall  fruit  be  in  the 
vine,  yet  I  will  rejoice  in  the  Lord,  I  will  joy  in  the 
God  of  my  Salvation  :'  Hab.  iii,  17,  18. 

Once  more :  let  us  endeavour,  at  such  seasons  as 
these,  to  recognise  a  Gracious  Monitor.  Whenever 
the  Lord  strikes  he  speaks.  Let  us  listen,  at  such  a 
time  as  this,  with  humble  attention  ;  yet  with  holy  con- 
fidence ;  for  it  is  the  voice  of  a  Frieyid, — a  wonderful 
Counsellor.  Let  us,  with  the  prophet,  resolve  to  as- 
cend the  tower  of  observation,  and  observe  '  what  he 
will  say  unto  us,  and  what  we  shall  answer  when  we 
are  reproved.'  If,  with  him,  we  thus  watch  our  dis- 
pensation, '  at  the  end,'  like  his,  '  it  shall  speak  :'  Hab. 
ii,  1—3. 

God  is  continually  raising  up  witnesses,  and  sending 
them  in  his  name  to  '  sound  the  alarm'  in  '  Zion  :'  Joel 
ii,  1.  He  charges  them  to  admonish  the  wise,  as  well 
as  the  foolish  Virgin,  to  beware  of  slumbering,  since  the 
bridegroom  is  at  hand  :  and  when  one  is  called  away, 
to  cry  to  those  that  remain,  •  Be  ye  also  ready,  for  in 
such  an  hour  as  ye  think  not  the  Son  of  Man  cometh  :' 
Matth.  xxiv,  44.  Some,  indeed,  like  the  sons  of  Lot. 
desperately  scorn  the  admonition,  and  treat  it  as  the 
fear  of  dotage :  Gen.  xix,  14.  Some,  like  those  in 
ihc  Acts,  'are  in  doubt,  saying  one  to  another.  What 


MISCELLANIES. 


meaneth  this  ?  and  others  mocking  reply,  These  men 
are  full  of  new  wine:'  Acts  ii,  12,  13.  But  Truth, 
like  a  rock  furiously  assaulted,  but  unshaken,  remains 
to  scorn  its  scorners :  and,  while  the  witnesses  con- 
tinue to  bear  a  faithful  and  consistent  testimony,  God, 
sooner,  or  later,  appears  in  vindication  of  their  inte- 
grity and  of  his  own  word.  Entering  a  careless 
family,  he  smites  the  first-born ;  and  as  one  that  will 
be  heard,  calls  aloud,  *■  Awake  thou  that  sleepest ; 
arise  from  the  dead,  ai>d  Christ  shall  give  thee  light :' 
Eph.  V,  14. 

And  is  it  not,  my  afflicted  friend,  an  infinite  mercy, 
if,  by  any  means,  God  will  enter  with  such  a  light  s 
that  he  will  rouse  such  a  sleeper?  that,  by  his  minister 
Death,  he  will  arrest  the  attention  of  him  who  has 
slighted  every  other  minister  ?  What  patience !  what 
long  suffering !  to  take  such  an  one  apart ;  bring  him, 
from  noise  and  occupation,  into  the  secret  and  silent 
chamber ;  speak  to  his  heart ;  and  seal  the  most  im- 
portant truths  on  it,  by  the  most  affecting  impressions  I 
Is  it  not  saying, '  How  shall  I  give  thee  up,  Ephraim  ? 
How  shall  I  make  thee  as  Admah  :'  Hosea  xi,  8.  Cei-- 
tain  it  is,  that  questions,  which  before  only  reached 
the  ear,  often  now,  like  barbed  arrows,  remain  fixed 
in  the  conscience.  Conscience,  no  longer  stifled  or 
amused,  discovers  the  Contender  ;  and,  trembling 
before  him,  cries,  '  Thou  hast  chastised  me,  and  I  was 
chastised  as  a  bullock  unaccustomed  to  the  yoke  :  turn 
thou  me  and  I  shall  be  turned,  for  thou  art  the  Lord 
my  God  :'  Jer.  xxxi,  18. 

This,  I  say,  is  often  the  case,  and  should  it  be  real- 
ized in  yours,  as  it  has  been  in  that  of  your  present 
Visitor;  if,  instead  of  flying  for  relief  to  every  objecl 
but  God,  you  are  brought  humbly  to  his  feet  with  pa- 
tient submission,  serious  inquiry,  fervent  prayer,  hoi} 
resolution,  and  firm  reliance :  if.  in  a  word,  by  the 
severest  stroke,  the  enchantment  is  also  broken,  your 
^oul  'escaped  a?  a  bird  out  of  the  snare  of  the  fowler.' 


VISIT  TO  THE  HOUSE  OF  IViOURNIXG.  339 


Ps.  cxxiv,  7,  and  returned  to  its  proper  rest;  what 
reason  will  you  have  to  say, 

Those  we  call  wretched  are  a  chosen  band. 
Amid  my  list  of  blessings  infinite. 
Stand  this  the  foremost, — '  That  mt/  heart  has  bled.'' 
For  .^11  I  bless  Thee  ; — Most,  for  the  severe ; 
Her  death,  my  own  at  hand  ■  

But  death  at  hand,  as  an  old  writer  expresses  ii. 
should  be  death  in  view,  and  lead  us  to  consider, 
next, 

Our  prospects  from  this  House  of  Sor- 
row, as  the  inhabitants  of  a  present  and  future 
world. 

Many  suppose  that  they  can  best  contemplate  the 
present  world,  by  frequenting  the  'House  of  Mirth:' 
Eccl.  vii,  4.  Their  whole  deportment,  however, 
shows  that  it  makes  them  much  too  giddy  for  serious 
observation:  'having  eyes  they  see  not:'  Mark  viii. 
18. 

Look  at  the  deceased,  and  contemplate  present 
things.  His  days  a  hand-breadth :  his  beauty,  con- 
sumed like  the  moih-frelten  garment :  his  cares  and 
pleasures,  a  dream :  his  attainments,  as  the  grass ; 
which  flourisheth  in  the  morning,  and  in  the  evening 
is  cut  down  and  withereth :  his  years,  a  tale :  his 
strength  labour  and  sorrow.  So  soon  is  the  Mholc 
cut  off  and  fied,  that  we  cannot  help  repeating  with 
the  Psalmist,  '  Verily,  every'  man,  at  his  '  best  estate, 
is  altogether  Vanity  :'  Ps.  xxxix  and  xc  ;  but  'a  va- 
pour, that  appeareth  for  a  little  while,  and  then  va- 
nishes away  :'  James  iv,  1 4. 

Few,  perhaps,  reflect,  when  they  follow  a  friend  to 
his  grave,  that  hfe  itself  exhibits  little  more  than  a 
funeral  procession,  where  friend  follows  friend ;  weep- 
ing to-day,  and  wept-for  to-morrow.  While  we  arc 
talking  of  one,  another  passes  :  we  are  alarmed  :  but 
behold  a  third !  There  is,  however,  relief  in  this  very 
very  reflection :  "  My  friend  is  gone  ;  but  am  I  weep- 


MISCELLAiNIES. 


ing,  as  if  I  were  to  stay  ?  Is  he  sent  for  in  the  morn- 
ing? in  the  afternoon  I  shall  certainly  be  called.'* 
Inconsolable  distress,  therefore,  may  ungird  our  loins, 
may  waste  our  hours,  and  cause  us  to  make  fatal  mis- 
takes in  the  journey,  but  docs  not  bring  us  forward  a 
single  step  toward  meeting  our  Friends  in  that  state, 
where  present  joys  and  sorrows  will  be  recollected 
only  as  the  dream  of  a  distempered  night. 

If,  after  many  former  admonitions,  an  Enemy  still 
urged  us  to  climb:  and,  as  wc  ascended,  pointed  'to 
the  kingdoms  of  the  world  and  the  glory  of  them.' 
Matt,  iv,  8 ;  if  our  hearts  have  been  the  dupes  of  the 
vanishing  prospect,  and  our  ears  eagerly  heard  the 
proposal,  '  All  these  things  will  I  give  thee,'  Matt,  iv, 
9  ;  let  us  now  hear  the  voice  of  a  Friend,  calling  us. 
though  in  an  unexpected  way,  '  to  commune  with  our 
heart  and  be  still Ps.  iv,  4 ;  to  know  '  at  least  in 
this  our  day  of  visitation,  the  things  which  belong 
to  our  peace :'  and  also  what  those  things  are  which 
■  hide  them  from  our  eyes  :'  Luke  xix,  42. 

It  is  at  such  seasons  as  these,  that  we  more  clearly 
detect  the  lies  of  life.  It  is  in  the  House  of  Mourn- 
ins,  that,  what  the  Scripture  calls,  lying  vanities,  lie 
peculiarly  naked  and  exposed.  Let  us  here  examine 
what  so  lately  dazzled  us.  What  now  is  the  '  purple 
and  fine  linen,'  Luke  xvi,  19;  that  caught  our  eye  ? 
What  is  it  to  fare  sumptuously  only  for  a  day  ?  Who 
is  he  that  cries,  '  Soul,  thou  hast  much  goods  laid  up 
for  many  years :  take  thine  ease :  eat,  drink,  and  be 
merry?'  Luke  xii,  19.  1  trust  you  now  feel  the  deep 
misery  and  utter  ruin  of  that  dying  creature,  who  can 
say  nothing  better  to  his  soul  than  this.  You  can 
scarcely  help  crying  out.  What  sottishness,  what  mad- 
ness this,  in  a  moment  so  interesting  as  Life !  with  a 
prospect  so  awful  as  eternity !" 

The  truth  is,  God  speaks  variously  and  incessantly 
to  man  respecting  his  prospects  both  present  and 
future :  but  present  things  seize  his  heart,  blind  his 


VISIT  TO  THE  HOUSE  OF  MOURNING. 


341 


eyes,  stupify  his  conscience,  and  carry  him  away  cap- 
tive. Now  ''  affliction  is  God  speaking  louder,"  and 
striving  Avith  the  heart  of  man  :  crying,  as  he  has  lately 
in  your  house,  '  Arise  and  depart :  this  is  not  your 
rest :  it  is  polluted and,  if  you  persist  in  attempting 
to  make  a  rest  of  it,  '  will  destroy  you  with  a  sore  de- 
struction    Micah  ii,  1 0. 

Our  plan,  indeed,  is  the  very  reverse  of  his.  We 
iove  our  native  soil,  and  try  to  strike  our  roots  deeper 
and  deeper  into  it :  tirmly  fixed  in  earth,  we  would 
fain  draw  our  whole  life,  strength,  and  nourishment 
from  it.  And  here  we  should  not  only  '  fade  as  a  leaf,' 
Isa.  Ixiv,  6  ;  but,  with  '  every  tree  that  beareth  not 
qood  fruit,  be  hewn  down  and  cast  into  the  fire,'  Matt, 
iii,  10,  did  not  mercy  interpose. 

We  seldom,  however,  discern  mercy  in  its  Jirst  ap- 
proach. "  Is  it  mercy, '^'^  say  you,  "  that  tears  me  up  by 
the  roots?  that  cuts  the  fibres  of  sweetest  union? 
Does  it  prune  away  the  finest  branches,  nip  the  love- 
liest buds,  and  cover  the  earth  with  blossoms  ?"  Yes, 
verily  :  since  the  very  life  of  the  whole  often  depends 
upon  the  removal  of  a  part,  Mercy  will  wound  to  heal. 
Regard  to  the  tree  will  strip  off  its  most  flourishing 
suckers.  The  great  husbandman  will  not  fail  to  adopt 
the  sharpest  means  for  the  improvement  of  his  choi- 
cest plants :  '  for  every  branch  that  beareth  fruit  ho 
purgeth  it,  that  it  may  bring  forth  more  fruit :'  John 
XV,  2.  '  Though  the  Lord  cause  grief,'  yet  it  is  in 
•  compassion,'  and  '  according  to  the  multitude  of  his 
mercies ;  for  he  doth  not  afflict  willingly,  nor  grieve 
the  children  of  men,'  Lam.  iii,  32,  33 ;  but,  soon  or 
late,  instructs  all  his  children  to  say,  '  I  know,  O  Lord, 
that  thy  judgments  are  right ;  and  that  thou  in  faith- 
fulness hast  afflicted  me  :'  Ps.  cxix,  75. 

Let  not,  therefore,  the  change  of  the  present  scene 
discompose,  but  direct  us.  It  changes,  in  order  to 
present  the  only  unchangeable  one.  By  thus  rend- 
ing the  veils  which  men  try  to  throw  over  a  dying 

VOL.  u.  30 


342 


MISCELLANIES. 


state,  and  discovering  tekel*  written  on  every  crea- 
ture, the  most  careless  are  often  so  roused,  that  they 
seem  to  awake  and  recover  themselves  :  they  appear, 
for  a  time  at  least,  to  become  wise,  to  *  understand 
these  things,'  and  seriously  to  '  consider  their  latter 
end  Deut.  xxxii,  29.  May  this  salutary  impression, 
however,  my  dear  friend,  never  be  worn  from  your 
mind ;  but  lead  you  habitually  to  look  from  this 
fading,  to  that  abiding  prospect,  which  is  to  be  found 
only  in  the  Eternal  World. — and  on  which  it  nm\ 
be  necessary  here  to  drop  a  reflection  or  tvvo. 

I  think  you  must  often  have  remarked,  that  the  ur- 
gency and  bustle  of  present  things,  not  only  raise  n 
cloud  of  dust  before  our  future  prospects,  but  earl\ 
beget  a  false  principle  that  the  prese7it  life  is  the  only 
one.  You  must  also  have  observed,  that  ten  thousand 
false  maxims,  which  daily  fly  through  the  world,  take 
their  rise  from  this  prime  falsehood.  Whereas,  in 
fact,  the  present  life,  instead  of  being  the  zchole,  is 
comparatively  nothing :  a  Stage,  a  Pordi,  a  Dream. 
a  weary  day's  Journey.  What  is  this  drop,  to  the 
Ocean  before  us  ?  What  this  moment,  to  Eternity 
As  a  Theatre,  indeed,  in  which  God  exhibits  the  won- 
ders of  his  providence  and  grace ;  or  as  a  Stage,  on 
which  we  are  to  act  our  parts  without  any  opportunity 
of  repetition  ;  the  present  state  is  infinitely  grand  and 
important :  but  surely  no  greater  imposition  can  be 
put  upon  the  Pilgrim,  than  to  persuade  him  that  he 
is  at  Home;  or  to  make  him  forget  and  drown  hi- 
eternal  interests  in  such  a  vision  of  the  night  as  thi- 
life! 

Do  you  not,  my  dear  friend,  sensibly  perceive  this  .' 
While  you  sit  here,  does  not  the  cloud  break,  and  the 
mist  subside  ?  Have  you  not  already  so  reahsed  'a 
better,  that  is  a  heavenly  country,'  Heb.  xi,  16,  as  to 
admire  him  who  pitched  only  a  tent  here.  Heb.  xi,  9. 
but  steadfastly  looked  for  'a  city  that  hath  founda- 

/.  f .      wanting."    Dan.  r,  27. 


VISIT  TO  THE  HOUSE  OF  xMOURNING.  343 


lions,'  Heb.  xi,  1 0.  Are  you  not  ready  to  '  take  hold 
of  the  skirt  of  this  Jew,'  saying, '  We  will  go  with  you, 
for  we  have  heard  that  God  is  with  you  ?'  Zech. 
viii,  23. 

Seeing  this,  you  only  see  truths  ever  exhibited  in 
the  Scriptures  ;  and  living  principles  in  all  who  are 
■  taught  of  God,'  John  vi,  43  :  for  he  alone  can  enable 
us  to  use  his  own  discoveries  ;  and  how  gracious  is  he, 
when  he  removes  any  object  which  might  prevent  our 
thus  seeing  Himself,  his  Kingdom,  and  his  Righteous- 
ness !  or  the  removal  of  which  may  prove  the  occasion 
of  our  seeking  them ! 

Just  before  the  flood,  there  were  doubtless,  among 
their  '  men  of  renown,'  Gen.  vi,  4,  admired  projec- 
tors:  but  there  appears  to  have  been  only  one  truly 
wise  man  among  them ;  one  who  saw  and  seriously  re- 
garded his  Prospects-  And  he,  '  being  warned  of 
God  of  things  not  seen  as  yet,  moved  with  fear,  prepa- 
red an  Ark  for  the  saving  of  his  house :'  Heb.  xi,  7. 
Now  such  a  man  is  the  Christian.  He  feels  '  the 
world  passing  away  with  the  lusts  thereof,  but  that  he 
that  doeth  the  will  of  God  abideth  for  ever :'  1  John 
ii,  17.  "I  feel,''  says  he,  that  however  finely  they 
dress  the  pageant  of  this  world,  it  '  passeth  by,'  1  Cor. 
vii,  3 1 .  To  a  creature  like  me,  going,  hastening,  such 
an  Jlrk  is  worth  more  than  ten  thousand  dying  worlds. 
Let  the  Gay  laugh :  '  let  the  Despisers  wonder  and 
perish  :'  Acts  xiii,  41  :  with  such  Prospects  before  me 
[  must  be  serious.  He,  that  cannot-,  lie.  has  revealed 
the  terrors,  as  well  as  the  glories,  of  a  future  state  :  he 
speaks  '  of  a  worm  that  dieth  not,  and  a  fire  that  is  not 
quenched,'  Mark  ix,  44,  as  well  as  of  '  a  fullness  ol 
joy  and  pleasures  for  evermore.  Ps.  xvi,  11.  I  must 
not,  I  dare  not,  shut  my  eyes  against  these  awful  reali- 
ties. I  will  not  sacrifice  my  soul  to  a  jest ;  nor  miss 
the  single  opportunity  afforded  me  for  its  salvation, 
lie,  that  calls  for  my  whole  heart,  is  worthy  of  it : 
while  the  things  which  have  hitherto  engrossed  it. 


344 


.MISCELLANIES. 


though  they  cannot  satisfy,  I  find  can  ruin  it.  '  I  will 
therefore  arise  and  go  to  my  Father.'  Luke  xv,  1 8 — 
to  my  Saviour,  who  has  promised  to  '  cast  out  none 
that  come  unto  Him.'  John  vi,  37.  Yea,  doubtless. 
I  '  count  all  things  but  loss,  that  1  may  be  found  in  him," 
Phil,  iii,  8,  9,  the  true  ark,  the  only  refuge,  which 
God  has  provided  for  perishing  sinners." 

Such  a  man,  indeed,  is  the  Christian;^  but  the 
Christian,  after  all,  is  but  a  Man.  In  a  state  like  this, 
he  needs  to  be  continually  reminded  of  his  own  prin- 
ciples. Even  the  wise  Virgin  slumbers  though  the 
Bridegroom  is  at  hand.  But  a  cry  is  often  made  in 
the  family,  before  that  which  will  at  midnight  awaken 
the  world :  one  like  that  in  the  house  of  Pharaoh  foi 
his  first-born  ;  or  that  so  lately  heard  in  yours  :  a  cry 
which,  while  it  rouses  the  sleeper,  and  fills  his  eyes 
with  tears  and  his  heart  with  pangs,  often  produces 
such  views  of  God  and  of  the  present  and  eternal 
state,  as  all  other  monitors  would  have  attempted  in 
vain. 

Here,-  then,  my  afilicted,  but,  I  hope,  instructed, 
Friend,  let  us  study  the  heavenly  science  of  gaining 
by  losses,  and  rising  by  depressions.  Leaving  the  wil- 
derness, like  Moses,  let  us  ascend  the  mount  of  scrip- 
tural discovery,  and  survey  a  prospect  of  which  his 
was  but  a  shadow.  Let  us  look  from  vicissitude  and 
desolation,  to  what  alone  is  '  incorruptible,  undefiled, 
and  fadeth  not  away'  1  Pet.  i,  4  :  and,  in  the  house  of 
affliction  and  death,  let  us  contemplate  a  House  '  not 
made  with  hands  eternal  in  the  heavens  :'  2  Cor.  v,  1. 
How  refreshing,  to  look  from  a  family  bereft  of  its 
companions  and  comforts  to  '  Mount  Zion,  the  city  of 
the  living  God,  the  heavenly  Jerusalem  !  to  an  innu- 
merable compan}^  of  angels,  and  to  the  general  assem- 
bly and  church  of  the  first-born  which  are  written  in 
heaven!'  Heb.  xii,  22,  23 — the  only  family,  which 
cannot  be  divided  : — the  only  friendship,  which  shall 
not  disappoint  our  warmest  expectation. 


VISIT  TO  THE  HOUSE  OF  MOURNING. 


345 


"  Glorious  as  this  prospect  is,"  perhaps  you  are 
l  eady  to  reply,  "  I  have  been  long  in  the  habit  of 
viewing  it  very  indistinctly.  My  attention  has  been 
so  fixed  on  one  below,  that  I  live  looking  into  the 
Grave  rather  than  beyond  it.  My  spirits  are  so  bro- 
ken, my  heart  so  wounded,  and  my  eyes  so  dim  with 
watching  and  weeping,  that  I  can  hardly  read  what  i? 
before  me,  or  recollect  what  1  read.  If  serious  re- 
flection composes  me  for  a  few  moments,  I  soon 
relapse,  and  seem  to  lose  sight  of  every  support.  I  in- 
deed severely  feel  what  you  say  concerning  the  pre- 
.tent  life,  but  I  view  the  glories  of  the  future  like  a 
starving  creature,  who,  looking  through  the  gate  of 
the  wealthy,  surveys  a  plenty  which  but  increases  his 
anguish." 

There  is,  however,  this  difference,  at  least,  between 
your  cases :  the  plenty  which  you  see  is  yours,  if  you 
are  really  willing  to  accept  it.  You  never  received  a 
gift  so  freely  bestowed  or  so  suited  to  your  necessity, 
as  that  '  Gift  of  God,'  which  is  '  eternal  life  through 
.Jesus  Christ :'  Rom.  vi,  23. 

In  order  to  view  this  more  distinctly,  let  us  consi- 
der the  sufficiency  of 

Our  PROVISIONS— For  'Wisdom  hath  built  her 
house,  she  hath  killed  her  beasts,  she  hath  mingled  her 
wine,  and  furnished  her  table.  She  also  crieth  upon 
the  highest  places  of  the  city.  Whoso  is  simple  let 
him  turn  in  hither,  and  to  him  that  wanteth  under- 
standing she  sailh.  Come,  eat  of  my  bread,  and  drink 
of  the  wine  which  I  have  mingled : — forsake  the  fool- 
ish, and  live     Prov.  ix,  1 — 6. 

Man,  indeed,  is  daily  reminded  by  the  Thorns  at 
his  feet,  by  the  Sweat  of  his  brow,  and  l)y  the  Dust 
to  which  he  is  returning,  that  his  paradise  is  lost:* 
I)ut  paradise  regained  is  considered  rather  as  a  mere 
idea :  a  subject  for  Poetry.    That  book,  however. 


*  Gen.  iii,  18,  19. 
\f)i,.  II.  30* 


346 


MISCELLANIES. 


which  I  hope  you  have  chosen  as  your  best  compa- 
nion in  the  house  of  mourning,  Hke  the  vision  of  Ja- 
cob, not  only  shows  the  heavens  opened,  but  disco- 
vers a  gracious  medium  of  communication  and  inter- 
course, as  it  were  'a  ladder  let  down  from  heaven  to 
earth  a  medium  so  suited  to  the  state  of  man,  that 
the  weakest  and  vilest,  who  is  humble  enough  to  take 
hold  of  it  as  God's  ordinance,  advance  a  step  at  a 
time,  and  call  for  strength  to  proceed,  may  climb  b} 
it  from  Earth  to  Heaven. t 

Are  you,  my  dear  friend,  among  the  number  of 
those,  who  stand  before  God  not  only  as  stripped  ol 
iheir  comforts,  but  humbled  under  sin  as  the  cause  of 
all  the  desolations  with  v/hich  our  fallen  state  abounds ''. 
Open  your  book  at  the  LXist  chapter  of  Isaiah.  You 
will  there  perceive  that  most  precious  privilege,  para- 
dise restored  :  the  Creator  descending  to  the  conditioi; 
and  wants  of  the  creature,  and  once  more  holding 
communion  with  him.  To  the  broken-hearted,  the 
captive,  and  the  mourner,  is  here  shown  One  mighty 
to  save  and  to  relieve.  And,  that  such  should  not  mis- 
take their  friend,  our  Lord,  w  hen  he  stood  up  in  the 
synagogue  to  read,  selected  this  passage :  and,  having 
read  it,  closed  the  book  w4th  saying,  '  This  day  is  thi> 
scripture  fulfilled  in  your  ears:'  Luke  iv,  21.  "] 
am,"  as  if  he  had  said,  "  this  Deliverer  and  '  Desire  of 
nations,  the  same  yesterday,  to-day,  and  for  ever. 
Blessed  are  they  that  mourn,  for  they  shall  be  com- 
forted :  blessed  are  ye  that  hunger  now  ;  for  ye  shall 
be  filled ;  blessed  are  ye  that  w  eep  now ;  for  ye  shall 
laugh:'"  Hag.  ii,  7.  Heb.  xiii,  8.  Matt,  v,  4. 
Luke  vi,  21. 

I  scarcely  need  observe,  that,  in  an  address  like 
this,  (a  bow  draw^n  at  a  venture,)  formal  statements  of 
the  different  topics  would  be  improper;  and  there- 
fore. I  shall  not  attempt  to  describe,  in  their  order,  the 

*  Gen.  xxviii,  12. 

T  Compare  Gen.  xxviii.  Avi1}i  .Tolin  i.  51. 


VISIT  TO  THE  HOUSE  OF  MOURxNTNG.  347 


various  Provisions  comprehended  in  that  scheme  ol 
redemption,  usually  termed  the  Gospel.  It  may  be 
necessary,  however,  to  remark,  that  the  whole  is  a 
proposal  to  the  broken  heart;  answering  all  its  objec- 
tions, and  meeting  all  its  wants  :  and  that  such  a  pro- 
posal will  be  cordially  received,  only  in  proportion  as 
this  disposition  prevails. 

As  it  is  the  Sick  who  best  knows  how  to  value  a  phy- 
sician, the  Debtor  a  surety,  and  the  Criminal  a  par- 
don ;  so  it  is  the  awakened  conscience  alone,  which 
will  embrace  a  constitution  calculated  to  humble  the 
pride,  find  mortify  the  corruptions,  as  well  as  relieve 
the  wants  of  man.  '  If  without  shedding  of  blood 
there  can  be  no  remission,'  Heb.  ix,  22 ;  he,  who  is 
earitest  to.  obtain  it,  will  rejoice  to  find  it  though  on 

■  the  accursed  tree  :'  and,  however  the  '  preaching  ol 
this  cross'  shall  be  esteemed  '  foolishness  among  them 
that  perish,'  1  Cor.  i,  18;  such  an  one  will  not  only 
rejoice  in  the  provision,  but  magnify  the  means, 

■  God  forbid  that  I  should  glory  save  in  the  cross  of 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  by  whom  the  world  is  crucified 
unto  me,  and  I  unto  the  world :'  Gal.  vi,  14. 

Our  Lord  represents  the  blessings  of  his  kingdom 
:mder  the  parable  of  a  magnificent  feast,  which  a 
•  King  made  for  the  marriage  of  his  Son  :'  but  points 
out  the  ruin  of  the  world  in  its  indisposition  io  accepi 
his  gracious  - proposal,  when  '  all  things  were  ready," 
and  invitations  repeatedly  sent.  '  They  made  lighl 
of  it,'  and  went  '  their  ways !'  However  different 
their  pursuits,  they  all  agreed  to  reject  the  invitation. 
They  began  with  one  consent  to  make  excuse :  some 
urged  reasons,  and  some  abused  the  messengers : 
Matt,  xxii,  1 — 6.  But  what  is  this,  more  than  the 
history  of  human  nature  in  every  age?  * 

Let  us,  however,  my  dear  friend,  never  forget  thai 
the  gate  lately  mentioned,  though  strait,  is  open;  and 
that  only  unbelief  and  indisposition  stand  without. 
Christ  has  declared  that  all  things  arc  ready :  may  his 


348 


MISCELLANIES. 


gracious  influence,  accompanying  this  humbling  pro- 
vidence, form  in  you  a  spiritual  taste  for  them !  Cer- 
tain I  am.  that,  whenever  this  is  attained,  his  namt 
mil  be  'as  ointment  poured  forth:'  Cant,  i,  3.  Tt 
will  give  a  savour  even  to  obsolete  poetry  : 

Christ  is  a  path — if  any  be  misled  : 

He  IS  a  robe — it'  any  naked  be  : 

If  any  chance  to  hunger — he  is  bread  : 

If  any  be  a  bondman — he  is  free  r 

If  any  be  but  weak — how  strong  is  he  : 

To  dead  men,  life  he  is — to  sick  men,  healtii  : 

To  blind  men,  sight — and  to  the  needy,  wealth  : 

A  pleasure,  without  loss — a  treasure,  without  stealth. 

To  prepare  the  heart  for  the  reception  of  this  trea- ' 
sure,  as  a  God  of  order,  he  is  pleased  to  use  a  system 
of  means ;  one  of  which  I  hope  he  is  now  employing 
for  your  soul's  health. 

I  love  to  indulge  hope ;  for  affliction  is  a  seed  time. 
And  let  me  freely  inquire,  since  God  has  called  you 
aside,  has  spoken  so  emphatically,  and  you  have  had 
leisure  for  serious  meditation,  do  not  the  Provisions  ol 
the  Gospel  appear  new,  sufficient,  and  exactl}'  suited 
to  your  case  1  Do  you  not  mark  that  Gold,  which 
the  thief  cannot  steal  ?  that  Foundation,  which  no 
tempest  can  shake  that  Life,  over  which  death  hatb 
no  power  ?  and  that  Peace,  which  the  world  can  nei- 
ther give  nor  take  away Does  not  the  religion  oi 
Jesus,  so  forgotten  and  degraded  among  men.  stand 
forv\-ard  now  as  the  '  one  thing  needful  ?'  Does  nol 
his  friendship  appear  now  to  be  'that  better  part,' 
which  'shall  not  be  taken  away  ?'  Luke  x,  42  ;  and 
which  alone  can  help  in  extremities  ?  In  the  wreck 
of  human  affairs,  indeed,  it  is,  that  God  often  makes 
his  truth  appear;  and  causes  his  Gospel,  like  a  plank 
thrown  out  to  the  perishing  mariner,  to  be  properly 
known  and  prized. 

"  These  are  the  great  occasions  which  force  the 
mind  to  take  refuge  in  religion  :  when  we  have  no  help 


VISIT  TO  THE  HOUSE  OP  MOURNING. 


349 


in  ourselves,  what  can  remain  but  that  we  look  up  to 
a  higher  and  a  greater  Power  ?  and  to  what  hope  may 
we  not  raise  our  eyes  and  hearts  when  we  consider 
that  the  greatest  Power  is  the  best. 

"  Surely  there  is  no  (truly  wise)  man,  who,  thus 
afflicted,  does  not  seek  succour  in  the  Gospel,  which 
has  brought  Life  and  Immortality  to  Light.  The  pre- 
cepts of  Epicurus,  who  teaches  us  to  endure  what 
the  Laws  of  the  Universe  make  necessary,  may  si- 
lence, but  not  content  us.  The  dictates  of  Zeno,  who 
commands  us  to  look  with  indifference  on  external 
things,  may  dispose  us  to  conceal  our  sorrow,  but  can- 
not assuage  it.  Real  alleviation  of  the  loss  of  friends, 
and  rational  tranquility  in  the  prospect  of  our  own 
dissolution,  can  be  received  only  from  the  promises  of 
him.  in  whose  hands  are  life  and  death ;  and  from  the 
assurances  of  another  and  better  state,  in  which  all 
tears  will  be  wiped  from  the  eyes,  and  the  whole  soul 
shall  be  filled  with  joy.  Philosophy  may  infuse  Stub- 
I30RNNESS,  but  Religion  .Only  can  give  Patience."* 

In  health  and  ease,  ingenious  speculations  may 
amuse  and  satisfy  us ;  but  I  think  you  now  feel  with 
me,  that,  when  he  '  takes  away  the  desire  of  our  eyes 
with  a  stroke,'  Ezek.  xxiv,  16,  our  sorrows  are  too 
deep  to  be  alleviated  by  the  mere  Orator  or  Philoso- 
pher. We  even  turn  in  disgust  from  him,  who  would 
thus  trifle  with  our  case.  We  need  a  support,  which 
the  world  cannot  afford.  I  faint,"  says  the  wound- 
ed soul :  '•  I  want  an  almighty  arm  to  lean  on  now : 
yea  a  very  tender  and  compassionate  one  too ; — one 
like  that  of  the  Son  of  Man.  I  need  'a  merciful  and 
faithful  High-Priest,  who,  having  been  tempted,  knows 
how  to  succour  the  tempted:'  Heb.  ii,  17.  18:  that 
Man  of  sorrows,  that  Brother  born  for  adversity,  who 
being  acquainted  with  grief,  can  enter  into  my  case  and 
commune  with  me  in  all  the  peculiarities  of  my  dis- 
tress. I  now  need  one,  who  can  quiet  me  on  his  own 
breast,  and  speak  to  me  with  his  own  voice,  '  Weep 

Johnsou. 


350 


not the  child  '  is  not  dead,  but  sleepeth :'  Luke  viii, 
52.  '  Weep  not,  thou  afflicted,  tossed  with  tempest. 
— when  thou  passest  through  the  waters  I  will  be  with 
thee :'  Isa.  xliii,  2.  It  is  true,  this  is  the  land  of 
death  ;  but  '  I  am  the  resurrection  and  the  life John 
xi,  25.  This  is  indeed,  '  a  dry  and  thirsty  land  where 
no  water  is,'  Ps.  Ixiii,  1  :  but  I  will  lead  you  to  '  foun- 
tains of  living  waters:'  I  will  'wipe  away  all  tears 
from  your  eyes  :'  "  Rev.  vii,  1 7, 

You  are  ready,  perhaps,  to  say,  " '  Oh  that  I  knew 
where  I  might  find  him !'  But  religion  has  been  with 
me  rather  a  case  of  necessity,  than  the  high  privilege 
of  communing  with  such  a  comforter.  I  feel  the  mi- 
sery of  living  at  such  a  distance  from  my  Heavenly 
Friend,  (especially  at  this  time,)  but  want  liberty  to 
approach  nearer.  Could  I  indeed  repose  on  the  bo- 
som you  just  mentioned  'but,  alas!  my  under- 
standing is  clouded,  my  faith  weak,  sense  strong,  and 
Satan  busy  in  filling  my  thoughts  with  false  notions, 
difficulties,  and  doubts  respecting  a  future  state  and 
the  efficacy  of  prayer.'*  Though  I  see  very  gracious 
proposals  made  to  returning  sinners,  I  tremble  to  ven- 
ture. Death  itself  reminds  me  of  transgression.  My 
thoughts  fly  every  where  but  to  God." 

We  readily  acknowledge,  that,  among  other  views 
of  death,  it  should  be  regarded  as  the  wages  of  sin. 
Rom.  vi,  23.  It  is  also  natural  for  convinced  sinners 
to  tremble  before  a  Judge  who  chaises  even  angels 
with  folly.  However  Pride  may  boast,  or  Ignorance 
presume,  he,  who  measures  by  the  standard  of  a  law 
which  is  so  spiritual  as  to  notice  a  corrupt  desire,  will 
conclude  with  the  Apostle,  that  '  every  mouth  must  be 
stopped,  and  all  the  world  become  guilty  before  God  :' 
Rom.  iii,  19.  A  view  of  the  divine  character,  and  of 
his  own,  led  not  only  a  Publican  to  smite  upon  his 
breast  as  the  seat  of  apostasy  and  pollution,  and  cry. 
■  God  bp  merciful  to  me  a  sinner,'  Luke  xviii.  1 3  :  but 
*  Lady  Rnsgel's  Iietter=. 


VISIT  TO  THE  HOUSE  OF  MOURNING . 


351 


so  perfect  and  upright  a  man  as  Job  to  '  abhor  himself," 
and  repent  'in  dust  and  ashes  :'  Job  xlii,  6.  I  may 
add.  that,  as  -we  become  proficients  in  their  school,  wc 
shall  be  more  ready  to  confess  than  to  complain :  wc 
shall  learn  to  justify  God,  in  any  instance  of  his  right- 
eous displeasure :  and  humbly  own,  that  he  has  laid 
upon  us  far  less  than  our  iniquities  deserve :  Ps. 
ciii,  10. 

But,  while  the  Christian,  as  a  penitent,  looks  upon 
Him,  whom  he  has  pierced,  and  mourns  ;  as  a  believer, 
he  looks  at  Him,  who  was  wounded  for  transgression, 
and  hopes.  He  finds  it  as  desperate  to  doubt  the  remedy. 
as  to  deny  the  disorder.  Having  formerly  rushed  head- 
long with  the  presumptuous,  \ve  now  fears  perishing 
with  the  fearful  ^nA  unbelieving :  Rev.  xxi,  8.  Ho 
sees  an  atonement  of  God's  own  providing :  he  pleads, 
upon  God's  own  authority,  the  merit  of  that  blood. 
"  which  cleanseth  from  all  sin  :'  1  John  i,  7.  And,  b} 
thus  receiving  '  the  record  which  God  gives  of  hi< 
Son,  he  sets  his  seal  to  it  that  God  is  true  :'  John 
iii,  33. 

Is  this,  my  dear  friend,  in  any  degree  your  case  ;' 
Fearful,  wandeiing,  and  wounded  as  your  heart  is. 
does  it  yet  discover  a  resting-place  ?  Instead  of  wish- 
ing to  evade  the  chaise  of  "  manifold  sins  and  wicked- 
ness committed  by  thought,  word,  and  deed  against 
the  Divine  Majesty is  "  the  remembrance  of  them 
grievous,  and  the  burden  of  them  intolerable  .'"'  Do 
you  sincerely  desire  to  be  freed  from  this  burden,  and 
to  enter  into 'the  glorious  liberty  of  the  children  of 
God !'  that  heavenly  communion  and  rest  that  has 
!)een  mentioned  ?  '  Behold  the  Lamb  of  God,  which 
taketh  away  the  sin  of  the  world!'  John  i,  29. 
'  Behold  him  exalted  to  be  a  Prince,  and  a  Saviour,  to 
give  repentance  and  forgiveness  of  sins !'  Acts  v,  31. 
Come  to  him  as  a  sinner;  and  touch,  with  humble 
confidence,  but  the  '  hem  of  his  garment,'  and  you 
-hall  be  'made  whole:'  Matt.  ix.  21.    Wait  upon 


352 


AnSCELLANIES. 


him,  and  you  shall  obtain  both  strength  and  liberty : 
•  for  if  the  Son  shall  make  you  free,  ye  shall  be  free 
indeed  :'  John  viii,  36. 

Respecting  jour  sense  of  weakness,  let  me  add. 
that  the  Provision  made  for  fallen  nature,  and  corres- 
ponding to  its  various  wants,  is  at  once  a  character  and 
an  evidence  of  our  Religion.  It  is  a  glorious  pecu- 
liarity of  it,  that  its  promises  correspond  with  its  pre- 
cepts. To  use  the  language  which  best  conveys  its 
meaning,  '  The  kingdom  of  God  is  not  in  word'  only, 
'but'  also  'in  power:'  1  Cor.  iv,  20.  He,  who  en- 
lightens the  blind  eyes,  undertakes  to  '  strengthen  the 
weak  hands,  and  to  confirm  the  feeble  knees :'  Isa. 
XXXV.  3 — 6.  The  Spirit  of  wisdom  and  understand- 
ing is  sent  to  be  also  a  Spirit  of  might,  of  grace,  and 
of  supplication.*  It  is  peculiar  to  our  Teacher,  that 
he  enables,  as  well  as  instructs,  his  disciples  :  he  first 
presents  a  prospect  of  the  inlieritance  ;  then,  a  title  to 
it  through  his  death ;  and.  together  with  these,  affords 
ftrength  to  rise  and  pursue  it.  Turn  to  the  xxsvith 
chapter  of  Ezekiel,  and  you  will  find  your  case  am- 
ply provided  for  :t  but  recollect  that  it  is  added,  'I 
will  yet  for  this  be  inquired  of,  to  do  it  for  them 
Ezek.  xxxvi,^  37.  'Is  any  afflicted,  let  him  pray:" 
James  v,  13. 

But  I  must  not  pass  by  the  temptation  which  you 
mentioned  respecting  the  efficacy  of  prayer.  You 
will,  perhaps,  too  readily  object,  "  Here  it  is  that  I 
sink.  I  prayed  earnestly  for  the  life  of  the  deceased. 
I  thought  at  one  time  I  saw  signs  of  a  recovery  :  but 
the  event  makes  me  fear  that  I  was  not  heard, 
and  that  I  have  no  Friend  left  now  in  Earth  or 
Heaven."  ■ 

A  little  consideration  will,  I  hope,  show  you  your 
mistake  ;  and  prove  that  a  petition  may  be  graciously 
accepted,  when  its  particular  object  is  not  granted. 

*  Compare  Zech.  xii,  10,  with  Eph.  i,  IP. 
■f  Ezek.  xxxvi,  25-.-27. 


VISIT  TO  THE  HOUSE  OF  MOURNING.  353 


Did  not  our  Lord  declare  that  his  Father  heard  him 
always  ?  John  xi,  42.  Are  we  not  told,  that  when, 
'  in  the  days  of  his  flesh  he  had  offered  up  prayers, 
with  strong  crying  and  tears,  unto  him  that  was  able 
to  save  him  from  death,  he  was  heard'  in  that  '  he 
feared?'  Heb.  v,  7.  But  consider,  I  pray  you,  how 
he  was  heard ;  certainly  not  by  having  the  cup  taken 
away,  (a  cup  at  which  human  nature,  however  perfect, 
must  recoil,)  but  in  being  accepted  when  he  prayed  ;  in 
being  supported,  while  he  drank  it;  and  in  victo- 
viously  accomplishing  his  grand  design,  though  drink- 
ing it  to  the  very  dregs. 

To  come  nearer  to  our  own  condition,  we  find  St. 
Paul  going  to  Christ  for  deliverance  from  some 
severe  trial,  which  he  calls  '  a  thorn  in  the  flesh.'  He 
tells  us  that  he  also  was  heard ;  and  in  the  same  way 
as  his  Master :  not  by  being  released  from  suffering, 
but  by  receiving  something  more  honourable  and  ad- 
vantageous ;  namely,  that  Grace,  which  not  only  sup- 
ports a  BeHever  through  his  trials,  but  puts  a  healing 
virtue  into  them. 

Far  removed  from  the  holy  resignation  of  our  Mas- 
ter, we  too  much  resemble  in  our  prayers  the  impa- 
tience of  our  children.  I  remember  when  a  sick  one 
of  mine  had  some  medicine  to  take,  he  called  loudly 
to  me  to  come  and  assist  him  against  those  who  were 
endeavouring  to  force  it  down.  He  probably  won- 
dered at  my  refusing  to  relieve  him  ;  but  the  little  suf- 
ferer did  not  consider,  though  often  told,  that  he  was 
not  to  be  helped  in  that  way :  he  did  not  recollect, 
that  while  I  tenderly  felt  his  cry,  the  very  compassion 
I  felt  for  him,  and  the  desire  I  had  to  relieve  him,  kept 
me  from  taking  away  the  bitter  draught. 

The  truth  is,  and  it  is  a  truth  frequently  told  us, 
that  our  Heavenly  Father  always  sends  his  children 
the  things  they  ask,  or  better  things  :  he  answers  their 
petitions,  in  kind,  or  in  kindness.  But,  while  wc 
think  only  of  onr  Ease,  he  consults  our  Profit.  Wc 

VOL.  II.  31 


354 


MISCELLANIES. 


are  urgent  about  the  Body  :  He,  about  the  Soul.  Wc 
call  for  present  Comfort :  He  considers  our  everlasting 
Rest :  and,  therefore,  when  he  sends  not  the  very 
things  we  ask,  he  hears  us  by  sending  greater  '  than  wc 
can  ask  or  think  :'  Eph.  iii,  20. 

'  Is  any,'  therefore,  '  afflicted,  let  him  pray not 
only  in  the  public  sanctuary,  or  in  the  retired  closet, 
but  let  him  consider  that  there  is  '  a  new  and  living 
way,  consecrated  through  the  vail,'  Heb»  x,  20 ;  of  a 
Redeemer's  human  nature,  from  every  scene  of  retire- 
ment or  action  to  a  Mercy  seat  ;  where  he  '  satisfies 
the  longing  soul,'  and  fills  the  '  hungry  soul  with  good- 
ness especially  of  '  such  as  sit  in  darkness  and  the 
shadow  of  Death:  Ps.  cvii,  9,  10.  Our  very  miser} 
and  infirmity  should,  in  defect  of  other  preachers, 
point  out  the  seat  of  our  relief;  and  direct  such  frail 
and  depraved  creatures  to  the  common  Friend  of  the 
weary  and  heaty  laden.  Pouring  into  his  bosom  all 
our  complaints,  we  at  once  obey  his  conimaad,  honour 
his  character,  and  obtain  his  assistance  :  '  for  we  have, 
not  a  High  Priest  which  cannot  be  touched  with  the 
feeling  of  our  infirmities,  but  was  in  all  points  tempted 
like  as  we  are,  yet  without  sin.  Let  us,  therefore, 
come  boldly  unto  the  Throne  of  Grace,  that  we  may 
obtain  mercy  and  find  grace  to  help  in  time  of  need :' 
Heb.  iv,  15,  16. 

Is  it  not  a  time  of  need  with  you  ?  Endeavour,  at 
his  command,  to  approach,  with  a  holy  confidence,  for 
the  '  supply  of  all  your  need  according  to  his  riches  in 
glory,'  Phil,  iv,  19 ;  and,  at  this  time  particularly,  for 
the  illumination  and  comfort  of  his  Holy  Spirit.  He, 
whom  you  supplicate,  not  only  invites,  but  reasons 
with  you  :  '  If  ye,  being  evil,  know  how  to  give  good 
gifts  unto  your  children,  how  much  more  shall  your 
Heavenly  Father  give  the  Holy  Spirit  to  them  that 
ask  him?'    Luke  xi,  13. 

The  religion  of  education  and  custom  obtains, 
more  or  less,  every  where ;  but  serious,  yita\.  spiritual 


VISIT  TO  I'HE  HOUSE  OF  MOURNING.  355 


religion  is  '  a  case  of  necessity'  with  us  all.  We  sum- 
mon our  forces,  we  ransack  our  stores,  we  'spend  our 
money  for  that  which  is  not  bread,  and  our  labour  for 
that  which  satisfieth  not :'  Isa.  Iv,  2.  We  look  every 
way,  and  call  to  every  thing ;  till  each,  in  retuni,  loudi} 
replies. '  It  is  not  in  me :'  Job  xxviii,  1 4.  Well,  indeed, 
will  it  be,  if  after  all  our  fruitless  efforts,  we  are 
brought  to  feel  that  the  provisions  of  the  Gospel  are 
the  only  bread  for  a  hungry  soul,  the  only  halm  for  a 
wounded  heart. 

However  foreign,  my  dear  friend,  these  truths  were 
from  vour  consideration,  when  we  first  sat  down  toge- 
ther.  if  it  shall  please  him  who  '  commanded  the  lighl 
to  shine  out  of  darkness,'  2  Cor.  iv,  6,  to  shine  into 
■our  heart,  and  effectually  discover  the  'exceeding 
riches  of  his  grace'  in  these  provisions;  then,  though 
ijou  sit  weeping  over  your  loss,  we  are  assured  from 
unquestionable  authority,  that  angels  are  rejoicing* 
for  your  unspeakable  gain.  We  are  certain  also,  thai 
not  only  every  real  friend  will  cry,  " '  This  day  is  sal- 
vation come  to  the  house,'  Luke  xix,  9,  where  we 
lately  wept;"  but  that,  drying  your  tears,  you  yourself 
will  be  compelled  to  express  your  grateful  sense  ol 
the  correction  you  now  deplore,  and  sing,  with  a 
companion  and  fellow  proficient  in  the  school  of 
affliction.t 

Father,  I  bless  thy  gentle  hand : 
How  kiiid  was  thy  chastising  rod, 
That  forc'd  my  conscience  to  a  stand, 
And  brought  my  wandVing  soul  to  God  I 

Foolish  and  vain,  I  went  astray 
Ere  I  had  felt  thy  scourges.  Lord  : 
I  left  my  guide — I  lost  my  way  : 
Uut  now  1  love  and  keep  thy  word. 

And,  here,  suffer  me  to  drop  a  word  or  two  rcspecl- 
Ing  these. 


T^ukc  XV.  10. 


\  Ps.  cxix,  07,  71. 


356 


MISCELLANIES. 


Our  COMPANIONS  in  the  House  of  Mourning. 
Society  is  peculiarly  pleasant  when  we  are  benighted 
on  a  journey :  and  especially  that  of  a  citizen  of  the 
place  to  which  we  are  going.  It  is  encouraging  to 
travel  with  those,  who  arg  convinced,  that,  if  '  they 
are  chastened  of  the  Lord,'  it  is,  '  that  they  should 
not  be  condemned  with  the  world 1  Cor.  xi,  32. 
'  Blessed  are  the  poor  in  spirit ;  for  theirs  is  the 
kingdom  of  heaven  :'  Matt,  v,  3.  Here  they  are  edu- 
cating for  it.  Here,  they  sit  at  the  foot  of  the  Cross, 
and  receive  lessons  of  faith  and  patience,  of  humility 
and  temperance. 

'  Blessed'  also  '  are  the  pure  in  heart ;  for  they'  here 
'  see  God  :'  Matt,  v,  8  ;  who  never  so  unveils  himself 
as  in  seasons  of  distress.  In  sight  of  his  character 
and  word,  they  bow  before  his  providence,  yea  trust 
him  in  the  stroke  ;  for  hope  is  made  to  arise  here,  as  a 
light  in  darkness.  Here  the  spiritual  Husbandman  is 
taught  to  '  go  forth  weeping,  and  bearing  the  precious 
seed'  of  faith  and  love,  penitence  and  prayer !  assured 
'that  he  shall  come  again  with  Joy,  bringing  his 
sheaves  with  him  :'  Ps.  cxxvi,  6.  Here  also,  the  hea- 
venly Scholar  acquires  '  the  tongue  of  the  learned, 
that  he  should  know  how  to  speak  a  word  in  season  to 
him  that  is  weary :'  Isa.  1,  4.  And  here  the  true  Sol- 
dier of  Jesus  Christ  is  found  '  fighting  the  good  fight  oi 
faith,  and  laying  hold  of  eternal  life,'  I  Tim.  vi,  12. 
in  the  very  valley  and  shadow  of  death.  He  is  here 
instructed  to  '  cast  down  imaginations,'  2  Cor.  x,  5  : 
those  reasonings  which  peculiarly  infest  and  darken 
the  House  of  Mourning ;  and,  taking  the  '  shield  of 
faith  and  the  sword  of  the  Spirit,'  he  '  wrestles  not  only 
with  flesh  and  blood,  but  with  principalities  and  pow- 
ers:' Eph.  vi,  12 — 17;  a  mighty  though  secret  con- 
flict, which  God  shall  one  day  declare  to  the  world : 
and  which,  when  explained,  will  leave  its  most  cele- 
brated heroes  silent  in  darkness  :'  1  Sam.  ii,  9. 


VISIT  TO  THE  HOUSE  OF  MOURNING.  357 


'  Go  thy  way  forth  by  the  footsteps  of  the  flock  :' 
Cant,  i,  8 ;  for  in  this  house  they  all  have  left  the 
prints  of  their  feet.  Here  stood  Jacob  weeping  over 
his  beloved  Rachel ;  Gen.  xxxv,  20  ;  and  here  Aaron 
deplored  his  sons :  Lev.  x,  3.  Here  we  trace  the 
.steps  of  David  going  up  to  his  chamber,  and  cr3dng 
with  a  loud  voice,  '  Would  God  I  had  died  for  thee,  O 
Absalom,  my  son!  my  son!'  2  Sam.  xviii,  33;  and 
those  of  Ezekiel,  who,  forbidden  to  cry,  silently  re- 
signed the  '  desire  of  his  eyes'  to  the  stroke :  Ezek. 
xxiv,  16.  But  enumeration  is  vain.  Hither  came  all 
the  sons  of  God,  the  only-begotten  not  excepted  ;  for 
Jesus  himself  stood  'and  wept'  at  the  grave  of  a 
friend  :  John  xi,  35. 

With  such  company,  is  it  not  far  'better  to  go  to 
the  House  of  Mourning  than  to  the  House  of  Feast- 
ing ?'  Eccl.  vii,  2.  I  knew  one  of  th^se,  '  a  man 
who  had  seen  affliction  by  a  rod,'  Lam.  iii,  I  ;  like 
yours :  a  man  who  walked  and  wept  in  solitude,  bu( 
with  no  expectation  of  being  overheard.  There  is 
something  sacred  in  grief,  and  we  cannot  listen  to  its 
clFasions  with  too  much  candour :  great  candour, 
indeed,  is  here  required ;  but,  if  afforded,  it  may  pro- 
cure you  at  least  a  Companion  as  you  pass  through 
<his  vale  of  tears. 


  '  Set  thee  iip  way-marks  :' 

Jer.  xxxi,  21  ;  "I  desire  here  to  set  them  up,  and 
to  record  the  severest  of  my  visitations  in  the 
house  of  my  pilgrimage.  Lord,  prepare  me  for 
the  next. 

"  I  perceive  1  could  not  have  properly  sympathised 
with  a  friend  in  a  similar  case,  before  this  stroke.  I 
could  not  have  understood  it. 

"  1  have,  at  times,  so  felt  the  importance  of  eternal 
things,,  that  I  thought  the  loss  of  any  present  comforl 
would  be  tolerable  :  but  I  had  no  idea  how  much  do- 

vor..  ir,  31* 


MISCELLANIES. 


pended  on  being  ready,  when  the  Son  of  Man  came  in 
such  a  providence. 

"  I  feel  I  now  stand  in  the  right  position  to  see  the 
•Morld  and  the  word.  They  both  appear  under  aspects 
entirely  new. 

"When  I  find  '  my  joys  pack'd  up  and  gone,'  m} 
heart  slain,  the  delight  of  my  eyes  taken  away  :  when 
I  recollect  who  is  gone  before  her,  who  is  following, 
and  what  remains  for  the  world  to  offer ;  my  heari 
cries,  '  I  loath  it :  I  would  not  live  alway :'  Job  vii, 
16  ;  I  thank  God,  that  I  am  also  to  go. 

"  I  perceive  I  did  not  know  how  much  my  life  was 
bound  up  in  the  life  of  a  creature.  When  she  went, 
nothing  seemed  left.  One  is  not ;  and  the  rest  seem 
a  few  thin  and  scattered  remains. 

"  And  yet,  how  much  better  for  my  lamb  to  be  sud- 
denly housed :  to  slip  unexpectedly  into  the  fold  to 
which  I  was  conducting  her,  than  remain  exposed 
here !  perhaps  become  a  victim ! 

"  I  cried,  '  O  Lord,  spare  my  child  !'  He  did  :  but 
not  as  I  meant.  He  snatched  it  from  danger,  and  took 
it  to  his  own  home. 

"I  have  often  prayed,  'Lord,  soften  my  heart! 
humble  my  pride!  destroy  my  levity!'  1  knew 
enough  of  his  way  to  fear  the  means :  and  he  has,  in 
mercy  towards  rne,  regarded  my  soul  more  fhan  m} 
feelings. 

"  I  prayed  earnestly  for  her  life.  Duty  compelled 
me  to  say,  '  Thy  will  be  done  :'  but  I  meant  nothing. 

"O  my  God,  how  long  hast  thou  come  'seeking 
fruit  on  this  tree !'  Luke  xiii,  7.  How  much  hast  thou 
done  to  cultivate  it !  Shall  it  still  remain  fruitless  ? 
Shall  it  be  cu;  down  after  all  ? 

"My  passions  forged  impressions  that  she  would 
live ;  but  I  now  plainly  perceive  I  am  called  to  regard 
God,  and  not  impressions. 

"  I  have  been  long  like  one  in  a  fever,  attended  al 
limes  with  a  strong  delirium :  1  begged  hard  that  1 


VISIT  TO  THE  HOUSE  OF  MOURNING.  359 


might  not  be  bled ;  but  he  meant  a  cure  and  pierced 
my  heart. 

'•  Oh  how  slender,  how  brittle,  the  thread  on  which 
hang  all  my  earthly  joys  ! 

"  I  wish  ever  to  be  asking,  '  Am  I  ready,  should  ho 
send  again,  and  take  or  ***,  or  myself?'  'Set- 
ting my  house  in  order,'  Isa.  xxxviii,  1,  will  not 
make  death  approach  sooner;  but,  that  it  will 
render  his  coming  much  easier,  I  feel  by  sad  ex- 
perience. 

"  When  I  pass  by  the  blaze  of  dissipation  and  in- 
temperance, I  feel  a  moment's  relief.  I  say  to  my 
heart,  '  Be  still — at  least  she  is  not  left  to  follow 
these  ignesfatui.  How  much  better  is  even  the  grave 
for  my  T******,  than  '  the  end  of  those  things  ?' 
Uom.  vi,  21. 

"  It  is  vain  for  me  to  wish,  as  I  have  done,  to  leave 
the  world,  and  go  to  my  father,  that  I  might  inquire 
into  the  whole  of  the  case  ;  the  reasons,  the  steps,  the 
issue,  (fee.  In  a  short  time  I  shall ;  but  he  says  enough 
now,  if  I  have  ears  to  hear. 

"  In  the  mean  time,  help  me,  O  my  God  and  Fa- 
ther, to  recollect  that  1  received  this  drop  of  earthly 
comfort  from  a  spring  which  still  remains !  Help  me 
to  feel  that  nothing  'essential'  is  altered!  '  for  with 
thee  is  the  fountain  of  life,'  Ps.  xxxvi,  9.  Part  of  my- 
self is  already  gone  to  thee  :  help  what  remains  to  fol- 
low."  


If  this  humble  attempt  to  improve  your  affliction 
has  been  attended  with  any  success,  you  will  readily 
admit  a  few  concluding  hints  with  respect  to 

Our  DUTY  in  such  circumstances. 

And  one  of  the  first  and  principal  duties  of  the  state 
is,  as  hath  been  expressed,  to  acknowledge  God  in  it. 

It  was  charged  upon  some,  that  they  '  returned  not 


360 


MISCELLANIES. 


to  him  that  smote  them,'  nor  '  sought  the  Lord'  in 
their  distress  :  Isa.  ix,  13.  On  the  contrary,  the  clear 
apprehension  which  Job  had  of  a  divine  hand  in  his 
afflictions,  is  as  instructive  as  his  patience  under  them. 
While  Grief  '  rent  his  mantle,'  Faith  '  fell  down  and 
worshipped : — The  Lord  gave,  and  the  Lord  hath 
taken  away  :  blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord  :'  Job. 
i,  21.  Let  us  learn  from  him  never  to  lose  sight  of 
the  Author  by  an  under  regard  to  the  mere  circumstan- 
ces of  our  loss.  We  may  think  and  speak  of  the 
symptoms  and  stages  of  the  late  removal ;  of  the 
physicians,  of  the  remedies, <Sz;c.  in  their  supposed  right 
or  wrong  application  ;  but  not  so  as  to  forget  that  an 
unerring  Providence  presided  over  the  whole,  yea  ac- 
tually conducted  every  part  on  reasons  as  righteous  at 
they  are  inscrutable. 

Whatever  may  appear  to  us  peculiar  in  the  sick 
chamber,  the  whole  v/as  but  God's  intended  method 
of  removing  one,  who  had  lived  his/it//  (i.  e.  his  ap- 
pointed) time.  '  Seeing  his  days  are  determined,  the 
number  of  his  months  are  with  thee :  thou  hast  ap- 
pointed him  his  bounds  which  he  cannot  pass  :'  Job. 
xiv,  6.  Instead  of  fixing  our  attention  upon  means 
and  creatures,  of  which  we  know  so  very  little,  let  us 
turn  to  him,  who  wrought  by  these  instruments,  and 
merely  cflfected  his  own  determinations  by  them. 
'  Cease  from  man,  for  wherein  is  he  to  be  accounted 
of?'  Isa.  ii,.  22.  Let  not  the  creature  hide  the  Crea- 
tor, nor  present  things  prove  the  fatal  screen  of  the 
future ;  but,  in  every  occurrence,  mark  the  Great 
Cause,  '  of  whom,  and  through  whom,  and  to  whom, 
arc  all  things :'  Rom.  xi,  36 — who  numbereth  the 
'  very  hairs  of  our  head,'  and  without  whom  even  a 
'  sparrow  falls  not  to  the  ground  :'  Matt,  x,  29,  30. 

While  others,  therefore,  are  wandering  without  an 
object,  and  bereaved  without  a  comforter,  yea  are  go- 
ing to  their  worst  enemy  for  relief,  let  us  endeavour 
to  say  with  Peter,  "  Lord,  '  to  whom  shall  we  go,'  John 


VISIT  TO  THE  HOUSE  OP  MOURNING. 


361 


vi,  68,  but  to  THEE  ?"  Consider  the  Great  Physician 
as  now  proposing  a  most  serious  question  to  your  con- 
science: 'Wilt  thou  be  made  whole?'  John  v,  6. 
May  the  language  of  your  heart  be  that  of  the  Apos- 
tle's :  'If  by  ANY  means!'  Phil,  iii,  11.  Then, 
though  seemingly  swallowed  up  of  this  grief,  like  Jo- 
nah, you  shall  find  a  resource  in  it,  and  finally  be  pre- 
served by  it.*  This  dart,  Hke  that  which  once  pierced 
an  imposthume  in  battle,  shall  briiig  health  with  its 
wound  :  and  you  shall  be  enabled,  with  many  who  are 
gone  before  you,  to  say,  '  The  Lord  hath  chastened 
me  sore  :  but  he  hath  not  given  me  over  unto  death 
Ps.  cxviii,  18. 

Duty  also  directs  you  to  moderate  your  Grief. 

Our  Heavenly  Father,  who  '  knows  our  frame,  and 
remembers  that  we  are  but  dust,'  Ps.  ciii,  1 4,  allows  us 
to  mourn  when  he  afflicts  us.  He  often,  in  his  pro- 
vidence, calls  us  to  it,  and  charges  us  to  '  weep  with 
them  that  weep  :'  Rom.  xii,  13.  But  he  admonishes 
us  also  of  a  danger  on  each  hand  : — '  My  son,  despise 
not  thou  the  chastening  of  the  Lord ;  nor  faint  when 
thou  art  rebuked  of  him :'  Heb.  xii,  5.  If  we  seri- 
ously profess  Christianity,  our  very  profession  implies, 
(not  only  a  subiection  to  our  Lord's  will,  but)  that  we 
have  special  resources  in  our  affliction :  several  of 

which  have  been  already  named :  that  among 

other  of  our  privileges,  there  is  '  a  peace  from  God 
which  passeth  all  understanding,  to  keep  our  hearts 
and  minds'  (Phil,  iv,  7)  through  life  and  death:  and 
that  we  have  many  reasons  for  '  not  sorrowing  as , 
others  who  have  no  hope:'  1  Thess.  iv,  13.  Besides 
which.  Christians  have  a  post  of  honour  to  maintain  : 
a  'high  calling'  (Phil,  iii,  14)  to  demonstrate  and 
commend.  We  shall,  hke  the  pilot  in  a  storm,  be 
brought  to  our  principles:  and,  as  'sorrowful,  yet  al- 
ways rejoicing,'  2  Cor.  vi,  10,  should  prove  that  we 
have  them  not  now  to  learn. 


*  Jonah  ii,  7—10, 


362 


MISCELLANIES. 


On  the  contrary,  there  is  such  a  thing  as  nursing 
and  cherishing  our  grief :  employing  a  "  busy  med- 
dline  memory  to  muster  up  past  endearments,"  and 
personate  a  vast  variety  of  tender  and  heart-rending 
circumstances.  There  is  a  tearing  open  the  wound 
afresh  by  images  and  remembrances ;  and  thereb} 
multiplying  those  pangs,  which  constitute  the  very  bit- 
terness of  death  itself.  Our  melancholy  exceedingly 
aflfects  this  voluntary  torture :  it  seeks  expedients ; 
and  will  listen  to  the  most  unjust  and  aggravated  accu- 
sations, which  can  approach  a  tender  conscience  re- 
specting the  deceased.  But  conscience  should  rather 
be  concerned  to  repress  such  a  disposition.  It  is  a 
temptation.  It  desperately  strives  to  retain  what  God 
has  determined  to  remove.  In  some  cases,  it  seeks  to 
penetrate  an  abyss,  which  he  forbids  even  conjecture 
to  explore :  and,  while  it  unfits  the  mourner  for  the 
pressing  duties  of  his  station,  it  leads  to  that  '  sorrow 
of  the  world  which  worketh  death'  (2  Cor.  vii,  10)  to 
his  body,  his  soul,  and  his  Christian  character.  How 
different  and  superior  the  sentiments  of  David  !  '  His 
servants  said  unto  him,  .What  thing  is  this  that  thou 
hast  done !  Thou  didst  fast  and  weep  for  the  child, 
while  it  was  alive :  but,  when  the  child  was  dead, 
thou  didst  rise  and  eat  bread.  And  he  said,  While 
the  chTld  was  yet  alive,  I  fasted  and  wept :  for  I  said, 
Who  can  tell  whether  God  will  be  gracious  to  me. 
that  the  child  may  live  :  but,  now  he  is  dead,  where- 
fore should  I  fast  ?  Can  I  bring  him  back  again  ?  1 

^SHALL   GO   TO   HIM,   BUT   HE   .SHALL   NOT   RETURN  TO 

ME  :'  2  Sam.  xii,  21 — 23. 

Present  circumstances  also  admonish  you  to  know 
YOUR  opportunity;  and  to  improve  this  season,  as 
peculiarly  favourable  for  spiritual  advancement. 

There  is  a  tide  in  the  concerns  of  religion:  the 
Scripture  calls  it  the  day  of  visitation,  and  sends  us  to 
the  slork  and  to  the  szuallow  for  instruction  respecting 
it :  Luke  xix,  44.  Jer.  viii.  7.    Your  heart  is  now  soft. 


VISIT  TO  THE  HOUSE  OF  MOURNING.  363 


its  fascinations  withdrawn,  and  the  call  loud  and  affect- 
ing :  endeavour,  therefore,  to  take  the  benefit  of  a  re- 
medy which  you  feel  so  expensive. 

If.  in  a  sense,  smitten  Friends  are  Angels  sent  on 
errands  full  of  love,"  instead  of  weeping  over  their 
tombs,  let  us  listen  to  the  voice  which  properly  arises 
from  them  ;  especially  if  it  be  our  privilege  to  bury 
one,  who,  like  Abel,  '  being  dead  yet  speaketh,'  Heb. 
xi,  4,  and  who  would  be  ready  to  say  to  his  mourners, 
'  Weep  not  for  me,  but  for  yourselves,  and  for  your 
children,'  Luke  xxiii,  28.  '  i  have  fought  the  good 
tight :  I  have  finished  my  course :  I  have  kept  the 
faith,'  2  Tim.  iv,  7,  and  received  my  crown.  I  can- 
not now  come  to  weep  with  you,  but  j'ou  may  ascend 
and  rejoice  with  me,  where  there  is  '  no  more  death, 
neither  sorrow,  nor  crying,  for  the  former  things  are 
passed  away :'  Rev.  xxi,  4.  If  you  truly  love  me, 
prepare  to  follow  me.  If  you  earnestly  wish  to  see 
me  again,  seek  not  the  living  among  the  dead,  but  arise 
and  become  'a  follower  of  them  who  through  faith 
and  patience  inherit  the  promises :'  Heb.  vi,  1 2. 
Take  that  heavenly  lamp  which  'shineth  as  a  light  in 
a  dark  place :'  walk  humbly  by  it,  '  till  the  day  dawn, 
and  the  day  star  arise  in  your  heart,'  2  Pet.  i,  1 9. — 
Haste,  my  beloved,  towardthe  things  which  '  eye  hath 
not  seen,'  1  Cor.  ii,  9  ;  and,  ere  the  eternal  day  break, 
and  the  present  shadows  flee  away,  '  run  with  patience 
the  race  set  before  you,  looking  unto  Jesus.'  Heb.  xii, 
1 ,  2.  How  will  my  cup  overflow  to  meet  you  among 
those  who  daily  '  come  hither  out  of  great  tribulation;' 
and,  having  '  washed  their  robes  in  the  blood  of  the 
lamb,  serve  him  day  and  night  in  his  temple !'  "  Rev. 
vii.  14,  15. 

Embrace  every  method  which  God  hath  recom- 
mended for  maintaining  communion  with  him,  and  ob- 
taining rehef  from  him: — the  jarious  ordinances  of 
liis  House ;  the  encouragements  of  his  Word ;  the  so- 
ciety of  his  Children  :  and  especially,  Prayer.  Often 


364 


MISCELLANIES. 


speak  to  him  who  ' seeth  in  secret,'  and  'is  nigh  unto 
all  that  call  upon  him,'  though  with  the  Woman  of 
Canaan  you  can  only  say,  '  Lord  help  me  :'  Matt,  vi, 
18.  Ps.  cxlv,  18.  Matt.  XV,  25.  Not  only  a  high 
commendation,  but  a  miracle  followed  her  request. 
She  urged  it  under  the  greatest  discouragements,  but 
you  have  both  a  command  and  a  promise :  '  Call  upon 
me  in  the  day  of  trouble  :  I  will  deliver  thee,  and  thou 
shalt  glorify  me:'  Ps.  1,  15. 

And,  while  you  search  the  Scriptures,  and  attend 
the  Church,  you  will  at  once  be  instructed  and  en- 
couraged by  marking,  in  both,  those  footsteps  which 
we  lately  considered.  They  are  indeed,  not  so  ex- 
plicit in  the  latter ;  but  attention  to  the  scriptural  ac- 
count of  the  Christian  character,  will  greatly  assist 
you  in  distinguishing  real  Christians  from  those,  who. 
equally  forward  and  corrupt,  have  at  all  times  assumed 
their  name  and  mixed  in  their  society  to  their  grief 
and  scandal.*  Leaving  these  unhappy  Exceptions  to 
their  proper  Judge,  following  the  unerring  Rule  which 
he  has  put  into  your  hand,  and  those  who  walk  by  it : 
particularly  such  as  are  your  companions  in  affliction. 
You  will  see  them  passing  before  you  with  not  only 
the  same  wounds  ,in  their  hearts,  but  almost  the  same 
words  in  their  lips.  Study  their  course  :  mark  their 
progress :  observe  how  they  hold  his  arm,  plead  at  his 
throne,  repose  in  his  bosom,  and  magnify  his  truth, 
who  walks  with  them  in  a  furnace,  which,  like  that  of 
the  three  children,  burns  nothing  but  their  bonds.! 

But  '  who  is  sufficient  for  these  things  ?' — A  fourth 
direction  will  serve  for  a  reply.  To  improve  the  op- 
portunity you  discern,  and  to  keep  pace  with  those 
you  approve,  seek  divine  assistance  ;  or,  as  St. 
Paul  has  expressed  it,  '  Be  strong  in  the  grace  that  is 
in  Christ  Jesus  :'  2  Tim.  ii,  1. 

If  on  the  one  hand.  Religion  has  vast  proposals  to 
make ;  on  the  other,  to  be  truly  religious  is  a  mighty 
*  Phil,  iii,  18, 19.  t  Dan.  iii.  25. 


VISIT  TO  THE  HOUSE  OF  MOURNIXG.  365 


Aim,  and  can  be  accomplished  only  'through  him  that 
loved  us  :'  Rom.  viii,  37.  Opposing  omnipotence  to 
difficulty,  was  their  secret,  who  so  gloriously  overcame 
a  world  that  was  not  worthy  of  them :  read  their  his- 
tory in  the  xith  chapter  of  the  Hebrews,  and  see  what 
an  implicit  reliance,  called  Faith. — a  '  seeing  Him 
who  is  invisible,'  will  perform.  That  invaluable  re- 
cord seems  to  say,  '  Our  fathers  trusted  in  thee  :  the)' 
trusted,  and  thou  didst  deliver  them  :  they  trusted  in 
thee,  and  were  not  confounded  :'  Ps.  xxii,  4,  5. 

We  are,  indeed,  called  to  aim  and  to  act,  and  have 
the  greatest  promises  annexed  to  the  endeavour :  but 
are  as  frequently  reminded  that  'we  are  not  sufficient 
of  ourselves,  to  think  any  thing  as  of  ourselves,'  but 
that  '  our  sufficiency  is  of  God :'  2  Cor.  iii,  5.  Christ 
encourages  no  one  to  advance  on  the  ground  of  his 
own  strength,  any  more  than  on  that  of  his  own  de- 
sert :  he  is  as  jealous  of  the  power  of  his  arm,  as  of 
the  merit  of  his  blood.  He  admitted  infirmity  and 
misery  to  be  presented  as  a  complaint,  but  never  as  an 
objection. 

I  have  observed  it  not  uncommon  for  this  to  be  a 
season  of  peculiar  temptation.  A  spiritual  enemy 
stands  ready  to  defeat  every  spiritual  opportunity  :  but 
our  help  is  near  ;  and  our  example,  in  such  conflicts, 
excellent.  '  For  this  thing  I  besought  the  Lord  thrice : 
and  he  said  unto  me.  My  Grace  is  sufficient  for  thee : 
for  my  strength  is  made  perfect  in  weakness.'  May 
you  be  enabled  to  add,  with  the  Apostle,  '  Most  gladly 
therefore  will  I  rather  glory  in  my  infirmities  that  the 
power  of  Christ  may  rest  upon  me  :'  2  Cor.  xii,  8,  9. 

Again,  that  you  may  seek  cheerfully  this  assistance, 

REGARD   YOUR  ENCOURAGEMENTS. 

To  recover  our  alienated  minds,  and  gain  our  confi- 
dence, God  meets  us  in  a  way  suited  to  our  necessities 
and  to  our  fears.  Resist,  as  the  vilest  temptation, 
any  doubt  of  that  '  Good-will  to  Man,'  which  was 
sung  at  the  Redeemer's  birth.    What  hath  God  not 

VOL.  II.  32 


366 


MISCELLANIES. 


done  in  order  to  commend  his  love  ?  By  every  ex- 
pression of  tender  concern,  he,  in  the  person  of  a 
Man  of  Sorrows,  invites  the  guilty,  the  weary,  the 
irembling,  and  the  tempted,  to  come  unto  him  ;  assu- 
ring them  that  he  will  neither  '  break  the  bruised  reed," 
nor  '  quench  the  smoaking  flax Matt,  xii,  20. 

If 'God  is  love,'  1  John  iv,  16,  " Christ  is  God, 
stooping  to  the  senses,  and  speaking  to  the  heart  of 
man :"  ever  saying,  "  Look  to  my  Cross,  take  my 
Yoke,  and  lean  upon  my  Arm,  and  ye  shall  find  rest."' 
He  sought  the  House  of  Mourning  to  comfort  the  sis- 
ters of  Lazarus  :  he  met  a  widow  following  her  only 
child,  and  'when  the  Lord  saw  her,  he  had  com- 
passion on  her,  and  said  unto  her.  Weep  not :'  Luke 
vii,  13.  May  he  meet  you  at  this  time,  my  dear 
friend,  with  consolations  which  none  but  himself  can 
afford  !  and  then,  at  the  very  grave,  shall  '  that  saying 
be  brought  to  pass.  Death  is  swallowed  up  in  victory  :' 
1  Cor.  XV,  54.  Let  such  fear  as  despise  our  heavenly 
Friend,  our  Prospects,  Provisions,  Companions,  and 
sense  of  Duty.  God  with  us,  and  all  things  in  God,  is 
light  in  darkness,  life  in  death.  The  words,  which  re- 
vived him,  who  styles  himself  'your  brother  and  com- 
panion in  tribulation,  and  in  the  kingdom  and  patience 
of  Jesus  Christ,'  Rev.  i,  9,  remain  to  cheer  a  solitude 
darker,  if  possible,  than  his :  '  Fear  not :  I  am  the 
tirst  and  the  last :  1  am  he  that  liveth,  and  was  dead  ; 
and,  behold,  I  am  alive  for  evermore.  Amen :  and 
Iiave  the  keys  of  hell  and  of  death  :'  Rev.  i,  17,  18. 

To  conclude :  the  late  event  solemnly  repeats  its 
author's  charge,  be  ye  also  ready:  Matt,  xxiv,  44. 

Your  friend  is  gone  :  your  following  is  certain  :  it 
may  be  sudden  :  it  may  be  next.  But,  should  it  take 
place  this  night,  and  find  you  provided  with  nothing 
better  for  the  change  than  the  miserable  subterfuges 
of  the  profane,  or  the  scarcely  less  miserable  supports 
of  the  formal,  what  an  alarm  (if  you  are  not  left  to 
the  most  affecting  delusion  or  stupidity)  will  it  occa- 


VISIT  TO  THE  HOUSE  OF  MOURNING.  367 


sion !  What  an  awful  transition,  to  pass  from  the  sa- 
viour to  the  judge!  without  love  to  him;  without 
even  an  acquaintance  with  him  :  unwilling,  unrecon- 
ciled, unrenewed ! — and  to  him,  who  has  so  often  invi- 
ted you,  warned  you,  and,  at  times,  atfected  your  con- 
science with  the  truths  which  we  have  been  consider- 
ing! What  a  subject  for  eternal  reflection.  'You 
would  not  come  to  him  that  you  might  have  life:' 
John,  v,  40. 

God  forbid,  however,  that  this  should  he  your  case  ! 
I  only  suppose  it,  lest  it  should  :  and  it  is  too  common 
to  render  the  supposition  improper.  From  such  a 
danger  we  cannot  be  too  secure  ;  and,  therefore,  hav- 
ing lately  seen  how  soon  '  the  night  cometh  when  no 
man  can  work,'  John  ix,  4,  let  us  seek  to-day,  in  the 
redemption  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus,  that  peace  and 
safety,  which  you  must  be  conscious  can  never  be 
found  out  of  it,  and  whicii  it  may  be  too  late  to  seek 
to-morrow. 

Some  things  belonging  to  our  important  change  arc 
wisely  hid  from  us.  Nothing,  however,  is  more  plain 
than  that  it  is  near;  and,  therefore,  demands  our  most 
serious  attention  :  that  it  is  finally  decisive,  Matt,  xxv, 
46  ;  and,  therefore,  warns  us  to  watch  against  those 
errors  which  eternity  cannot  rectify;  and,  that  the 
hour  is  tmcertain  ;  and,  therefore,  calls  us  to  stand  pre- 
pared. With  our  loins  girded,  and  our  lights  burning. 
may  we  thus  wait  for  our  Lord. 

Impressed  with  such  views,  I  have  often  wished  to 
take  the  afflicted  by  the  hand,  and  lead  them  to  a  Re- 
source which  their  passions  have  obscured.  I  have 
wished  them  to  see  that  the  Christian  Hope  is  then 
most  alive  and  full  of  immortality,  when  every  other 
hope  perishes.  These  wishes,  and  the  request  of  a 
friend,  (who  was  solicitous  to  obtain  something  ol' 
this  kind  more  compendious  than  he  had  yet  seen) 
have  drawn  from  me  some  imperfect  hints.  Imper- 


368 


MISCELLANIES. 


feet,  however,  as  they  are,  like  a  few  words,  presented 
by  the  road's  side  to  the  eye  of  a  weary  traveller,  they 
may  afford  you  some  present  direction  and  relief. 
And  should  he,  who  is  pleased  to  employ  the  feeblest 
means  in  his  greatest  work,  conduct  you  by  them 
(though  but  a  single  step  on  your  way)  towards  a 
Morning  without  clouds  a  House  without  mourn- 
ing,— the  service  of  your  affectionate  friend  will  ob- 
tain a  high  reward. 


FRIENDLY  ADVICE 

FROM 

A.  laiiriSTEB 

TO 

THE  SERVANTS  OF  HIS  PARISH. 

He,  that  hearkeneth  unto  counsel,  is  •wise..,.PEov.  xii,  16. 


VOL.  II, 


FRIENDLY  ADVICE, 

.ire. 


CHAPTER  I. 

INTRODUCTION. 

The  Author  of  this  Address  calls  himself  j^our  Friend. 
because  he  wishes  you  well,  and  would  serve  you  to 
the  utmost  of  his  power.  If  he  has  not  silver  and 
gold,  such  as  he  has  he  freely  gives.  He  has  been 
taught  himself,  that  there  are  truths  more  valuable 
than  either;  and  he  would  fain  teach  you  the  same : 
'  For  wisdom  is  a  defence,  and  money  is  a  defence : 
but  the  excellency  of  knowledge  is,  that  wisdom 
giveth  LIFE  to  them  that  have  it:'  Eccl.  vii,  12. 

I  have  an  easy  access  to  many  of  those  whom  you 
serve ;  and  can  remind  them  of  their  duty  privately, 
as  well  as  from  the  pulpit :  but  some  of  their  ser- 
vants I  have  no  opportunity  of  conversing  with ;  and 
therefore  have  composed  the  present  little  Tract  for 
your  use. 

A  minister,  who  rightly  regards  his  situation,  feeli< 
an  affection  for  every  class  of  his  people  :  as  the  spi- 
ritual parent  of  a  large  family,  he  has  a  concern  for 
every  part  of  it ;  and,  as  the  servant  of  Him  who 
made  himself  the  servant  of  all,  he  cannot  overlook 
those  who  have  a  name  so  like  his  own. 

But  the  service  I  am  endeavouring  to  render  you 
will  very  much  depend  upon  your  being  willing  to  be 
served.  There  are  minds  in  so  unhappy  a  state,  that 
nothing  serious  nor  important  can  gain  their  attention. 


372 


MISCELLANIES. 


If  they  read  at  all,  they  either  amuse  themselves 
with  trifles,  or  poison  themselves  with  trash.  Such 
will,  probably,  throw  away  this  tract  in  contempt, 
if  it  should  fall  into  their  hands.  Should  it,  how- 
ever, fall  into  the  hands  of  one  more  thoughtful, 
I  will  endeavour  that  he  shall  be  repaid  for  looking 
it  over. 

I  have  been  often  encouraged,  when,  from  the  pul- 
pit, I  have  met  a  servant's  attentive  eye ;  or  when  1 
have  seen  him  listening  to  a  profitable  remark  while 
waiting  in  the  parlour.  I  have  been  pleased  to  meet 
them  at  a  bookseller's,  inquiring  for  some  instructive 
publication ;  and  have  been  ready  to  say  upon  such 
occasions,  '  Happy  is  the  man,'  whatever  be  his 
station,  '  that  getteth  understanding,'  for  '  she  is  a 
tree  of  life  to  them  that  lay  hold  upon  her :'  Prov. 
iii,  13,  18. 

'  The  sluggard  is  wiser  in  his  own  eyes  than  seven 
men  that  can  render  a  reason,'  Prov.  xxvi,  16;  but 
the  man  of  understanding  will  think  and  listen.  He 
will-  seriously  consider  the  shortness  of  life,  and  how 
stupid  and  brutish  it  is  to  waste  it  without  improve- 
ment :  much  more  so  to  sink  it  in  folly,  sensuality, 
and  vice ;  and  instead  of  making  provision  for  a 
happy  immortality,  only  lay  the  ground  for  bitter 
repentance. 

Thinking  persons,  I  say,  cannot  but  feel  the  weigh! 
of  these  considerations ;  and,  accordingly,  they  will 
listen  to  such  hints  as  they  meet  with  on  the  subject, 
and  they  will  improve  as  they  listen.  In  this  temper 
and  in  this  way,  some  of  the  first  characters  for  use- 
fulness and  respectability  have  arisen  from  among 
servants ;  agreeably  to  that  Scripture,  '  A  wise  ser- 
vant shall  have  rule  over  a  son  that  causeth  shame, 
and  shall  have  part  of  the  inheritance  among  the  bre- 
thren ;'  Prov.  xvii,  2. 

Turn  your  mind,  therefore,  to  such  instruction  as 
Providence  shall  please  to  afford  you,  in  this  or  in  an\ 


FRIENDLY  ADVICE  TO  SERVANTS.  373 


other  way.  It  is  from  a  small  seed  dropped  into  the 
ground,  that  the  most  useful  and  ornamental  produc- 
tions of  the  field  and  garden  arise ;  and  a  single  hint 
has  given  rise  to  a  train  of  thoughts,  which  has  form- 
ed a  new  character  among  men. 

And  here  let  me  add  a  caution  :  namely,  That  you 
should  be  careful  not  to  slight  any  truth,  because  some 
weak  person  may  happen  to  hold  it,  or  sorne  bad  cha- 
racter may  chance  to  defend  it ;  or  because  it  may  be 
spoken  to  you  in  a  wrong  temper,  or  at  an  improper 
season.  It  is  possible  that  these  very  hints  may  be 
put  in  your  hand  in  a  way  which  tends  to  lessen  their 
good  effect :  but  recollect,  that  a  guinea  is  exactly  of 
the  same  value  to  you  in  whatever  way  it  is  presented. 
Regardless  of  the  mind  of  the  giver,  you  would  say, 
"Gold  is  gold."  Now,  I  only  ask,  that  you  would 
in  the  same  way,  reflect  that  truth  is  truth!  and 
that  truth  will  serve  you  where  gold  cannot.  '  Buy' 
thou,  therefore,  '  the  truth,  and  sell  it  not,'  Prov. 
xxiii,  23 ;  on  any  account  whatever.  Stand  by  it, 
and  it  will  stand  by  thee ;  for  it  is  great,  and  shall 
prevail. 


CHAPTER  II. 

THE  SERVANT'S  INTEREST. 

An  all-wise  Providence  has  appointed  differenL  sta- 
tions, and  made  them  dependent  on  one  another ;  so 
that  the  '  eye  cannot  say  to  the  hand,  I  have  no  need 
of  thee:'  1  Cor.  xii,  21.  It  has  also  made  the  happi- 
ness of  each  member  to  depend  on  the  regular  per- 
formance of  its  own  particular  office  ;  so  that  the  eye, 
while  it  directs  the  hand,  shall,  in  return,  receive  pro- 
tection from  it.  By  this  mutual  dependence  it  is 
intended,  '  that  there  should  be  no  schism  in  the  body : 


374 


MISCELLANIES. 


but  that  the  members  should  have  the  same  care  one 
for  another :'  1  Cor.  xii,  25. 

Whatever,  therefore,  you  meet  with  in  this  Tract, 
which  treats  of  what  you  owe  to  the  happiness  of  your 
employers,  is  by  no  means  to  be  understood  as  if  the 
payment  would  lessen  your  own  stock  of  happiness. 
I  mean  to  show  rather,  that  your  interests  are  mutual : 
and  that  what  promotes  your  Master's  comfort,  as 
truly  increases  your  own.  A  fatherly  regard  to  your 
true  interest  ought  never  to  be  foi^otten,  either  by 
your  Minister  or  Master :  both  are  bound  to  remember, 
that  they  also  have  a  Master  in  Heaven,  who  has 
commanded  them  '  to  love  their  neighbour  as  them- 
selves,' Matt,  xxii,  39  ;  and  to  '  give  unto  their  servants 
that  which  is  just  and  equal :'  Col.  iv,  1. 

It  is  just  and  equal,  then,  that  faithful  service  should 
meet  with  suitable  protection  and  encouragement. 
Neither  the  laws  of  God  nor  man  forbid  your  pru- 
dently seeking  relief  under  want,  excessive  labour,  or 
injuries  of  any  kind.  You  are  justified  in  quitting  a 
place  in  which  you  cannot  enjoy  health,  nor  obtain 
reasonable  support  and  comfort.  But  prudence  re- 
quires you  to  be  cautious  how  you  change  your  place, 
merely  for  the  sake  of  greater  wages.  Many  a  ser- 
vant has  sold  health,  comfort,  and  character,  yea  the 
safety  also  of  body  and  soul,  for  a  paltry  considera- 
tion in  money :  and  learned  too  late,  that  one  place, 
with  small  wages,  is  often  better,  all  things  considered, 
than  another  with  large. 

Much  less  let  a  hasty  word  or  momentary  vexation 
throw  you  out  of  place.  This  is  acting  more  like  a 
passionate  child  than  a  man.  Whatever  you  do  in  a 
passion,  you  will  repent  of  doing.  It  is  always  folly, 
— often  madness.  "  No  government,"  says  an  able 
writer,  "  could  subsist  for  a  day,  if  single  errors  could 
justify  defection  :"  and  we  may  add,  That  such  as 
throw  up  their  posts  for  an  error's  sake,  will  probably 
spend  their  lives  in  smarting  for  their  rashness. 


FRIENDLY  ADVICE  TO  SERVANTS.  375 


In  wishing  to  change  your  place,  you  should  recol- 
lect that  every  change  will  bring  with  it  its  own  incon- 
\'eniences  and  difficulties ;  and  some,  of  which  you 
have  no  suspicion  till  you  feel  them.  It  is  childish  to 
form  high  expectations  of  a  new  thing.  People  of 
experience  expect  but  little  from  the  most  flattering 
prospects  and  proposals.  Sin,  like  a  blight,  has  en- 
tered every  place,  and  withered  the  most  pleasant  ol 
its  fruits  and  flowers.  If  good  men,  (like  Aaron,  Eli. 
and  David,)  are  obliged  to  lament  that  their  '  house  is 
not  so  with  God,'  2  Sam.  xxiii,  5,  as  they  wish  and 
earnestly  pray  for,  what  can  we  expect  from  the  gene- 
rality of  houses  ? 

You  should  also  never  forget  that  we  carry  the 
greatest  part  of  the  trouble  we  complain  of  in  our 
own  bosoms.  When  we  wish  a  change,  we  for  the 
most  part,  are  like  sick  persons,  who  imagine,  that  if 
they  could  change  sides  in  their  bed  they  should  be 
easier :  they  turn,  but  they  are  still  uneasy  :  and  why  ■' 
because  they  are  still  sick.  This  life  was  never  in- 
tended to  be  the  rest  of  either  master  or  servant : 
both  have  their  burdens ;  and  the  master's  is  often- 
times the  heavier  of  the  two. 

The  dutiful  and  pious  conduct  of  some  servants 
toward  their  indigent  relations  should  not  be  forgot- 
ten. I  have  seen  a  daughter  willing  to  wear  mean 
clothes,  that  her  aged  mother  might  have  some  to 
wear.  I  have  also  seen  such  conduct  blessed  with 
distinguished  favour.  '  Honour,'  therefore  '  thy  father 
and  thy  mother,  which  is  the  first  commandment 
with  promise,  that  it  may  be  well  with  thee :'  Eph. 
vi,  2,  3. 

As  reputation  in  general  is  that  which  gives  weight 
and  influence  to  any  man,  so  the  reputation  of  ser- 
vants is  peculiarly  their  strength.  A  servant  with 
health  and  character  is  provided  for.  '  A  good  name 
is  better  than  precious  ointment:'  Eccl.  vii,  1,  A 
silent  steadiness,  a  tried  integrity  and  diligence,  arc  so 


376 


MISCELLANIES. 


essential  to  the  interests  of  mankind,  that  no  master 
can  be  insensible  to  their  value.  Be  assured,  that 
the  wealthiest  and  the  happiest  are  so  needy,  in  this 
respect,  that  such  service  must  always  bear  a  high 
price. 

Let  nothing,  therefore,  base  or  false,  rob  you  of 
that  precious  jewel,  your  reputation.  Be  honest,  dili- 
gent, and  civil,  if  it  be  only  out  of  respect  to  your- 
self. Who  is  not  struck  with  the  answer  of  that  slave 
which  history  records,  who,  standing  among  others  for 
sale,  and  being  asked  by  a  purchaser,  "  Wilt  thou  be 
faithful,  if  1  buy  thee  ?"  replied,  "  Yes,  whether  you 
buy  me  or  not !" 

But  character,  especially  among  females,  (to  whom 
I  now  speak)  is  easily  blasted,  so  as  to  be  irrecovera- 
bly lost.  If  any  consideration  can  lessen  the  crime  of 
the  \'illain  who  attempts  to  strip  you  of  it,  it  must  be 
that  of  his  not  considering  the  depth  of  ruin  into  which 
he  would  plunge  you.  Should  he,  however,  be  cruel 
enough  to  neglect  the  consideration,  surely  you  will 
not  forget,  that  want  of  reputation,  and  the  despair 
which  attends  it,  fill  our  streets  with  prostitutes ;  mur- 
dering, at  once,  both  body  and  soul.  Depend  upon 
it,  that  he,  who  would  dishonour  you,  has  no  sincere 
affection  for  you  ;  and  the  moment  you  suffer  him  to 
pass  the  bounds  of  the  strictest  decorum,  he  must 
lose  even  his  respect  for  you :  that  very  respect, 
upon  which  alone  a  true  and  constant  regard  is 
built. 

Your  safety  partly  consists  in  being  aware  of  your 
danger.  Detect  Ruin  in  its  first  approaches.  Un- 
derstand its  smiling  aspect  and  plausible  pretence. 
Particularly  avoid  dangerous  occasions,  and  whatever 
you  find  likely  to  deprive  you  of  your  resolution. 
They  have  made  but  little  observation  on  their  own 
hearts,  who  have  not  learned  how  weak  their  reason 
and  resolution  arc,  in  the  moment  of  temptation :  and, 


FRIENDLY  ADVICE  TO  SERVANTS. 


377 


therefore,  that  their  safety  lies  in  making  a  timely  es- 
cape ;  that  is  to  say,  an  immediate  one. 

To  speak  more  generally — Bad  company  is  so  mis- 
chievous, that  when  a  young  servant  is  observed  to  be 
entering  into  it.  every  person  of  compassion  and  dis- 
ceniment  recoils  at  the  sight,  as  at  seeing  a  sheep  enter 
the  slaughter-house.  Who,  that  has  seen  any  thing  of 
life,  does  not  know  the  mischief  of  a  vicious  conver- 
sation and  example  I  What  will  not  an  unprincipled 
tongue  dare  to  assert  ?  W^hat  so  sacred  that  does  not 
serve  it  for  a  jest  ?  What  character  or  service  will  it 
not  teach  others  to  despise  ?  What  corrupt  maxim  or 
vain  project  will  it  not  recommend .''  I  have  known  a 
short  conversation  quite  unhinge  a  sober  mind.  1 
have  observed  a  few  hints  plant  disorder  and  wretch- 
edness in  a  once  contented  breast,  that  could  never 
afterward  be  rooted  out.  I  have  even  been  surprised 
to  find  how  soon  a  bad  example  would  transform  one 
that  has  been  long  humble,  diligent,  and  conscientious, 
into  the  very  reverse.  In  a  word,  such  a  tongue  is, 
indeed  •  an  unruly  evil,'  and  'full  of  deadly  poison,' 
James  iii,  8  ;  and  the  danger  is  the  greater,  because 
the  poison  is  often  mixed  with  something  curiou*  and 
entertaining,  or  is  presented  under  the  notion  of 
friendship.  The  venom,  thus  sweetened,  creeps  into 
the  heart  before  even  its  danger  is  suspected :  but  be- 
ware of  this  deadly  cup  as  you  prize  your  safety :  the 
more  pleasing  you  find  it,  the  more  dangerous  it  is. 
The  best  advice  here  is,  that  which  comes  from  the 
highest  authority :  '  Avoid  it :  pass  not  by  it :  turn 
from  it,  and  pass  away  :'  Prov.  iv,  15. 

I  think  I  ought  not  to  omit  warning  you  of  the  snare 
which  attends  gaming^  or  adventuring  in  lotteries. 
Covctousness  lies  at  the  root  of  it ;  and  a  discontent 
with  that  provision,  which  God  hath  already  made 
for  us.  It  is  He,  who  has  placed  us  in  our  ditFerent 
stations,  and  bids  each  to  '  take  heed  and  beware  of  co- 
vctousness,' Luke  xii,  1 5,  and  to  depend  for  our  support 

VOL.  u.  33 


378 


MISCELLANIES. 


upon  him  who  clothes  the  hlies  and  feeds  the  birds  : 
and  far  from  encouraging  a  man  in  those  crooked 
paths  which  lead  to  wasting,  and  sometimes  to  steal- 
ing, he  charges  him  to  '  labour,  working  with  his  hands 
the  thing  which  is  good,  that  he  may  have  to  give' 
(even  though  he  is  but  a  labourer)  '  to  him  that  need- 
eth  :'  Eph.  iv,  28. 

Many  honest  and  prosperous  servants,  led  away  by 
the  puffing  proposals  of  gain  which  are  every  where 
to  be  met  with,  would  think  a  real  friend  was  roman- 
cing, if  he  should  give  them  an  account  of  the  dis- 
tresses, frauds,  lies,  and  other  desperate  steps  to  which 
such  projects  often  lead ;  and  which  sometimes  end, 
not  only  in  the  loss  of  character,  but  even  of  life. 
Such  an  account,  J  say,  might  surprise  those  who 
know  but  little  of  the  world,  and  the  effect  of  its 
gilded  baits  ;  but  is  this  account  any  thing  more  than 
what  has  actually  happened  again  and  again  ?  And. 
if  we  often  hear  of  such  things,  how  many  more  evils 
of  this  sort  may  we  reasonably  suppose  there  are  of 
which  we  never  hear !  But  it  is  with  gaming,  as  with 
most  other  bad  habits :  it  advances  a  step  at  a  time. 
The  first  step  is  thought  to  be  innocent  and  safe  :  the 
next  is  not  considered  as  very  dangerous :  the  third, 
however  dangerous,  is  yet  deemed,  in  present  circum- 
stances, absolutely  necessary  :  till,  at  length,  the  de- 
luded adventurer  awakes,  as  from  a  dream,  to  reflect 
(but  too  late)  upon  his  folly  and  his  ruin. 

If  1  have  said  nothing  of  swearing,  drunkenness, 
indecency,  violence,  &c.  it  is  merely  because  such 
vices  are  too  gross  and  scandalous  to  need  exposing  in 
such  a  Tract  as  this.  Who,  that  commits  these 
crimes,  does  not,  upon  reflection  feel  ashamed  of 
them  ?  There  are,  however,  some  considerations  at 
the  end  of  the  book,  to  which  such  an  unhappy  cha- 
racter would  do  well  to  take  heed,  before  it  is  too 
late  :  for  '  he,  that  being  often  reproved,  hardeneth  hi* 


FRIENDLY  ADVICE  TO  SERVANTS.  379 


neck,  shall  suddenly  be  destroyed!  and  that,  withoul 
remedy  :'  Prov.  xxix,  1 . 

I  AM  obliged  now  to  turn  from  considerations  which 
more  particularly  relate  to  your  private  concerns,  to 
those  which  belong  to  your  engagement. 

But,  before  we  enter  upon  the  next  chapter,  let  us 
seriously  resolve  to  seek  His  blessing  upon  these 
Hints,  "from  whom,"  as  our  Church  expresses  it, 
"'all  holy  desires,  all  good  counsels,  and  all  just  works 
do  proceed" — '•  that  we,  who  cannot  do  any  thing 
that  is  good  without  him,  may  by  him  be  enabled  to 
live  according  to  his  will,  through  Jesus  Christ  our 
Lord.  Amen." 


CHAPTER  III. 

A  MASTER'S  REASONABLE  EXPECTATIONS. 

He,  who  foresaw  the  infinite  variety  of  disputable 
cases  which  would  arise,  and  which  no  body  of  laws, 
however  extensive,  could  reach,  when  "  he  visited  us 
in  great  humility,"  left  a  rule  so  comprehensive, 
that  it  may  be  applied  to  every  case ;  and  at  the 
same  time  so  easy,  that  the  meanest  capacity  may 
apply  it : 

All  things  whatsoever  ye  would  that  men  should  do 
unto  you,  do  ye  even  so  unto  them  ;  for  this  is  the  law 
and  the  prophets :  Matt,  vii,  12. 

As  our  claim  upon  others  depends  so  much  upon 
our  '  rendering  to  all  their  dues,'  Rom.  xiii,  7, — as 
'  tribute  to  whom  tribute  is  due,  custom  to  whom  cus- 
tom, fear  to  whom  fear,'  and  '  honour  to  whom  honour 
— it  is  my  duty  to  state  to  yiyu  some  of  those  sot- 


380 


MISCELLANIES. 


vices,  which  those  with  whom  you  hve  have  a  right 
to  claim. 

And,  as  the  first  step  to  our  rightly  performing  our 
part,  is,  to  know  it,  I  shall  select  the  inle  above  men- 
tioned as  our  measuring  rod.  I  shall  put  this  standard 
into  your  own  hand;  and  observe  that,  in  order  to 
your  using  it,  you  have  only  to  suppose  that  Provi- 
dence had  appointed  you  to  govern  instead  of  to 
serve  :  you  will  then  perceive  what  you  would  reason- 
ably have  claimed  from  those  servants  over  whom  you 
were  placed. 

Would  you  not  expect,  while  you  fulfilled  your  en- 
gagements with  them,  that  they  should  also  fulfil  their 
engagements  with  yoii ;  namely,  to  yield  you  both 
faithful  and  cheerful  service  ?  bearing  with  those  in- 
firmities in  you  which  are  common  to  human  nature? 
Would  you  not  expect  them  to  be  honest,  not  only  in 
larger  matters,  but  that  they  should  not  watch  oppor- 
tunities to  purloin  m  smaller  ?  Would  you  deem  it 
upright,  if  they  listened  to  your  private  conversation  ? 
if  they  examined  your  private  papers  ?  if  they  wasted 
or  made  away  with  your  substance,  or  your  time  1  In 
a  word,  would  you  not  say,  "  Real  honesty  will  do  no- 
thing which  fears  a  discovery ;  or  which  needs  secret 
opportunities,  or  concealments  ?" 

For  a  master  as  much  pays  his  servant  for  time,  and 
care,  as  his  tradesman  for  goods ;  and,  while  his 
property  is  liable  to  be  attacked  in  a  variety  of  ways, 
he  employs  servants,  like  so  many  watchmen,  to  de- 
fend it.  But  how  hard  would  you  deem  it  to  be  be- 
trayed by  your  guards !  to  have  the  very  staff  upon 
which  you  leaned,  not  only  fail,  but  pierce  you !  to 
have  a  servant  idle,  whe^i  you  particularly  needed  his 
activity ;  and  wasting  that,  which  is  often  provided 
with  difticulty !  How  would  you  feel  his  careless- 
ness, when  much  depended  on  his  care !  and,  if  he 
were  at  the  same  time  too  proud  and  impatient  to 
receive  either  reproof  or  instruction!    With  what 


.  FRIENDLY  ADVICE  TO  SERVANTS.  381 


grief  would  you  observe  him  choosing  the  very  con- 
nections which  you  had  forbidden !  forming  a  separate 
interest,  yea,  a  sort  of  conspiracy  against  you  and 
vour  family,  and  seeking  wretched  pretences  to  justify 
absolute  injuries !  I  cannot  doubt  but  that  you  would 
propose  your  rule,  as  an  end  to  all  debate.  You 
would  bid  him  honestly  ask  his  own  heart,  how  he 
would  like  such  treatment ! 

The  same  may  be  said  of  the  abuse  of  horses :  not 
to  mention  the  baseness  of  ill-treating  a  generous 
creature,  which  cannot  complain ;  and  which,  while 
it  stands  patient  under  repeated  injuries,  stands  also 
ready  to  strain  every  nerve  to  please  his  cruel  abuser. 
How  would  you  feel  if  your  servant  thus  treated 
A  horse  which  you  valued  ?  Let  such  an  abuser 
also  ask  himself,  How  he  would  feel  to  live  constantly 
under  the  lash  of  an  unfeeling  tyrant,  who  either 
has  no  meaning  in  his  abuse,  or  who  takes  no 
pains  to  make  his  meaning  understood  ?  under  one. 
who  may  have  any  thing  done  by  gentle  methods, 
but  who  makes  choice  of  cruel  ones  ?  and  one. 
who,  by  repeating  his  cruelties,  has  so  hardened 
liimsclf,  that  it  becomes  difficult  to  convince  him 
that  he  is  cruel  ? 

Again  :  Would  you  not  expect,  while  your  property 
was  secured,  and  your  interest  consulted  in  other  re- 
spects, that  the  character  of  yourself  and  your  family 
should  be  equally  secure  ?  Apply  the  rule  again,  and 
inquire,  What  you  would  think  of  a  servant  who  scru- 
pled not  to  expose  your  weakness  to  any  one  who  would 
be  mean  enough  to  hear  the  tale.  What  would  you 
say  to  those,  who  collected  and  retailed  every  fault 
or  misfortune  in  your  family ;  especially,  when  mis- 
stated, and  presented  only  on  the  unfavourable  side  / 
I  am  persuaded  that  their  taking  away  your  purse 
would  not  leave  so  unfavourable  an  impression  upon 
your  mind. 

I  have  said  nothing  here  of  inventing  absolute  false- 
roi-.  TT.  33* 


382 


MISCELLANIES. 


hoods,  because  I  am  not  speaking  to  the  abandoned, 
but  to  the  inconsiderate  :  to  such,  as  do  not  consider 
that  to  speak  only  half  the  truth  is  often  a  lie ;  and 
that  the  truth  itself  may  be  so  injurious,  that  nothing 
can  justify  its  being  spoken,  but  when  greater  injuries 
must  follow  upon  your  silence. 

Once  more  :  You  would  not  only  require  your  ser- 
vant to  be  honest,  sober,  and  careful  of  your  property, 
interest,  and  character;  but  you  would  reasonably 
expect  attention  as  to  the  manner  of  your  being 
served.  You  must  be  conscious  how  much  satisfac- 
tion depends  upon  the  spirit  and  temper  of  the  person 
serving,  and  how  very  offensively  a  command  may  be 
obeyed  :  insomuch,  that  obedience  in  the  act  may  be 
accompanied  with  perfect  rebellion  in  the  manner. 
You  know,  if  you  receive  assistance  in  a  sullen,  care- 
less, or  impertinent  way,  you  would  rather  be  withoui, 
such  service.  You  must  also  be  sensible,  that  if  every 
trifle  be  made  a  subject  of  debate  or  contention,  no 
family  can  be  at  peace.  Providence  has  appointed 
some  to  govern,  and  others  to  sene,  as  ditferent  mem- 
bers of  the  same  body ;  and  when  this  order  is  not 
cheerfully  submitted  to,  there  must  ensue  strife,  confu- 
sion, and  every  evil  work. 

Thus  I  have  mentioned  some  instances  as  examples 
of  trying  the  rule  or  standard  of  right ;  but  innume- 
rable instances  beside  these  might  be  mentioned,  and 
will  daily  arise,  to  which  the  rule  is  equally  applica- 
ble. If,  therefore,  vicious  companions  attempt  to 
make  wrong  appear  right,  or  to  think  very  little  of  thr 
wrong,  recollect  you  have  a  rule  at  hand  which  wil! 
exactly  suit  the  case,  and  easily  determine  what  is 
your  duty;  for  no  wrong  conduct  in  others  can  possi- 
bly excuse  what  is  wrong  in  us. 

A  considerate  master  will  not,  indeed,  rigorously 
exact  his  claims :  he  will  know  human  nature  too 
well  to  expect  more  than  imperfect  service  from  im- 
perfect creatures.    The  error?  which  he  marks  in  hi' 


FRIENDLY  ADVICE  TO  SERVANTS.  383 


own  course,  the  passions  which  disturb  his  own  bo- 
som, and  the  '  ten  thousand  talents'  which  he  hereby 
owes  to  his  Lord,  will  teach  him  to  avoid  so  great  a 
mistake  as  that  of  angrily  '  taking  his  servant  by  the 
throat,  saying,  Pay  me  that  thou  owest !'  Matt, 
xviii,  28.  But  the  more  generously  he  refrains  from 
demanding  all  his  due,  the  more  ready  should  you  be 
io pay  li:  yea,  with  a  generosity  like  his  own,  exact 
it  from  yourself;  and,  depend  upon  it,  that  if  you 
possess  such  real  worth,  sooner  or  later  your  worth 
will  be  felt  and  acknowledged,  however  low  your  pre- 
■^(Mit  situation  or  discouraging  your  prospects. 


CHAPTER  I\ . 

FELLOW-SERVANTS. 

1  COME  in  this  chapter  to  drop  a  few  hints  respecting 
rlie  temper  you  should  cultivate  toward  your  Fellow- 
Servants  :  and  your  living  well  with  them,  depends 
much  upon  the  regard  you  pay  to  the  same  general 
rule,  of  doing  as  you  would  be  done  by. 

The  jealousies  and  animosities,  which  arise  from 
(he  merest  trifle,  and  throw  a  large  family  into  confu- 
sion and  party  rage,  are  scarcely  to  be  conceived 
those  who  have  not  seen  them :  like  a  single  spark, 
which,  struck  by  accident,  and  falling  upon  combusti- 
ble mattei",  will  lay  a  whole  town  in  ashes.  In  order, 
therefore,  to  live  in  peace,  you  must  not  only  be  peace- 
ably disposed,  but,  as  the  Apostle  expresses  it,  you 
must  'seek  peace  and  puf-sue  it:'  1  Pet.  iii,  11. 
That  is,  as  men  pursue  an  object  upon  which  theii- 
iieart  is  set.  Often  have  we  heard  complaints  stated 
with  plausibility  by  one  party  ;  and  thought  the  injury 
very  great,  till  the  other  side  was  heard.  If,  therefore, 
you  suppose  (which  is  very  common)  that  the  griev- 
vance  lies  chiefly,  if  not  entirely,  with  your  fellow- 


384 


MISCELLANIEb. 


servant,  put  yourself  in  his  place ;  and  you  will,  per- 
haps, begin  to  discover  your  mistake. 

Let  me  particularly  exhort  you  to  make  an  ingenu- 
ous confession  of  error  as  soon  as  you  discover  it. 
Never  thiiJt  you  degrade  yourself  by  taking  the  side  of 
Truth,  whenever  or  with  whomsoever  it  appears. 
You  never  pretended  to  be  infallible  :  why  then  be  so 
backward  to  acknowledge  an  error  ?  To  convince  my 
adversai'y,  is  gaining  a  victory  over  him :  but,  to  con- 
fess my  mistake,  is  to  gain  one  over  myself.  In  a 
word,  it  is  often  the  only  method  left  us  of  doing  awav 
a  fault :  it  is  the  way  to  rise  by  a  fall :  it  is  an  oppor- 
tunity of  seizing  the  approbation  of  another's  mind : 
it  silences  his  future  blame,  and  often  overcomes  evil 
with  good. 

History  mentions  an  exemplary  character,  who 
went  to  has  enemy,  and  said,  "  Shall  we  never  be  re- 
conciled till  we  become  a  table-talk  to  all  the  coun- 
try ?"  And,  when  his  enemy  agreed  to  reconciliation, 
"  Remember,"  said  he,  that  though  I  was  both  elder 
and  the  superior,  I  sought  first  to  thee  !"  "  True,'" 
replied  the  other,  "  I  every  way  feel  my  inferiority  ? 
(or  I  began  the  quarrel,  and  thou  the  reconciliation." 

One  of  the  worst  characters  that  enters  a  house  is 
•  the  whisperer,  which  separateth  chief  friends  :'  Prov. 
xvi,  28.  But,  I  pray  you,  understand  me  here.  B\ 
a  whisperer,  I  cannot  mean  one,  who  feels  himself 
bound  to  give  notice  of  wrongs  which  he  cannot  other- 
wise prevent.  No!  I  mean  a  wanton  or  malicious 
sower  of  strife.  I  hope  you  will  consider  the  injus- 
tice and  cruelt}'  of  such  a  practice :  and  recollect, 
that  no  one  despises  the  tale-bearer,  more  than  those 
who  listen  to  the  tale ;  and  that  '  with  what  measure 
ye  mete,  it  will,'  in  one  way  or  other,  '  be  measured 
to  you  again  :'  Matt,  vii,  2. 

In  a  word,  whether  we  regard  masters  or  servants, 
we  live  in  a  world  which  has  so  many  sharp  points 
and  critical  stations,  that  our  own  comfort,  as  well  as 


FRIENDLY  ADVICE  TO  SERVANTS. 


385 


that  of  those  with  whom  we  hve,  is  made  to  turn  upon 
mutual  kindness,  forbearance,  accortimodation,  and  de- 
pendence :  in  want  of  these,  we  are  condemned  to 
bear  the  lash  of  continual  discord,  and  are  made  our 
own  tormentors.  The  least  consideration  will  infonn 
us  how  easy  it  is  to  put  an  ill-natured  construction 
upon  a  word ;  and  what  perverse  turns  and  expressions 
spring  from  an  evil  temper.  Nothing  can  be  explain- 
ed to  him  who  will  not  understand,  nor  will  any  thing 
appear  right  to  the  unreasonable.  "  Every  thing  in 
life,"  says  one  of  the  ancients,  "  has  two  handles 
but  it  must  be  a  bad  disposition  indeed,  which  will  be 
ever  seizing  the  wrong  one. 

I  therefore  repeat  it.  That  if  you  would  have  com- 
fort, you  must  give  it.  It  is  no  uncommon  thing  to 
hear  the  very  persons,  who  throw  a  family  into  con- 
fusion, complain  that  there  is  no  peace  in  the  family : 
but  he,  that  would  escape  the  calamity  of  fire,  must 
be  careful  not  to  strike  the  sparks  which  enkindle  it. 

The  only  remedy  for  all  these  evils  is  true  religion. 
This,  so  far  as  it  is  embraced,  brings  '  glory  to  God; 
peace  on  earth,  and  good-will  toward  men  :'  Luke  ii, 
14.  The  slightest  acquaintance  with  the  doctrine 
and  example  of  our  Saviour,  must  convince  every  un- 
prejudiced mind  of  their  holy  and  heavenly  tendency : 
and  the  tendency  of  this  religion  is  a  sufficient  proof 
that  it  came  from  Heaven,  and  leads  to  it  again ;  if  no 
other  proof  could  be  given. 

'  From  whence  come  wars  and  fightings  among  us,' 
but  from  the  want  of  that  mind  which  our  Master 
possessed  and  recommended  ?  Such  a  mind  would  put 
an  end  to  those  bickerings  and  jealousies,  which  reii''- 
der  families  so  wretched.  Christianity  teaches  us  to 
suffer  ills,  not  to  inflict  them ;  and  to  give  '  good  mea- 
sure and  running  over,'  rather  than  nicely  to  consider 
what  was  agreed  for. 

But,  whatever  price  we  pay  for  peace,  it  must  never 
he  purchased  at  the  expense  of  Truth.    The  quiet  o 


38G 


MISCELLANIES. 


some  persons  is  little  more  than  a  state  of  confederacy, 
or  agreement  in  wrong  sentiments  and  bad  practices. 
As  it  is  my  duty  to  warn  you  of  whatever  is  wrong  in 
general,  let  me  add.  that  there  is  nothing  wrong  in 
the  character  of  man,  which  a  serious  reader  of  his 
Bible  will  not  find  described,  together  with  its  danger 
and  remedy. 

Let  me  also  remind  you  to  value  and  improve  your 
time  ;  for,  as  somebody  has  observed,  "  It  is  with  our 
time  as  with  our  money,  a  good  husband  makes  a  little 
go  a  great  way!"  Spare  minutes  taken  care  of,  turn 
to  great  account  at  the  year's  end !  Waste  not  then 
the  leisure  you  have  (especially  on  the  Sunday)  in  so 
wretched  and  unprofitable  a  manner  as  many  do ;  but 
gather  up  your  fragments  of  time  for  present  im- 
provement and  eternal  happiness ;  and  endeavour,  in 
improving  opportunities,  to  imitate  a  great  character 
of  former  times,  who,  when,  almost  expiring,  hearing 
some  persons  discoursing  in  a  low  tone  of  voice,  said, 
"  Speak  out,  that  I  may  learn  something  more  before 
I  die." 


CHAPTER  V. 

RELIGION. 

I  HAVE  hitherto  spoken  principally  on  those  subjects 
which  relate  to  your  comfort  and  character  in  this 
world.  I  should,  however,  perform  but  a  small  part 
of  my  duty,  and  but  ill  fulfil  the  profession  of  a  friend, 
were  I  to  confine  my  advice  only  to  the  present  mo- 
ment. To  give  a  man  directions  for  travelling  com- 
fortably is  worth  something ;  but  how  insufficient  will 
this  be,  if  we  neglect  to  point  out  the  right  road  in 
which  he  is  to  travel !  Even  a  rough  and  dreary  way, 
which  leads  to  our  Father's  house,  is  far  better  than  a 


FRIENDLY  ADVICE  TO  SERVANTS. 


387 


smooth  and  pleasant  path,  which  leads  to  the  abode  of 
an  enemy. 

1  come,  therefore,  to  speak  on  the  subject  of  that 
Religion  which  I  mentioned  at  the  conclusion  of  the 
last  chapter ;  and  which  is  no  other  than  a  state  of 
friendship  with  God :  which  raises  a  high  and  lively 
expectation  in  our  hearts  on  the  security  of  his  own 
truth :  which  brings  present  life  and  peace,  Rom.  viii, 
6  ;  and,  like  a  river  refreshes  and  fertilizes  every  place 
through  which  it  flows. 

Religion,  moreover,  particularly  invites  your  re- 
gard, as  it  is  a  blessing  common  to  the  rich  and  poor. 

It  is  at  church  that  the  poor  man  lifts  up  his  head." 
Providence  has  appointed  many  distinctions  in  other 
things,  all  which  a  Christian  is  satisfied  with  on  this 
very  account,  that  as  they  are  but  transient  in  them- 
selves, so  they  are  appointed  of  God  for  wise  pur- 
poses ;  but,  in  the  grand  and  eternal  concern,  you 
have  the  same  privileges  and  promises  which  arc 
proposed  to  your  master.  For,  as  the  natural  Sun 
shines  into  the  room  of  the  meanest  servant  with  the 
same  splendour  and  warmth  as  into  the  master's,  so 
the  '  Sun  of  Righteousness'  ariseth,  without  any  re- 
spect of  persons,  upon  their  hearts. 

Lest,  however,  you  should  fall  into  Ihe  more  com- 
mon mistakes  about  our  religion  ;  or  lest  you  should 
be  led  away  by  any  dangerous  heresy  of  the  day,  and 
make  shipwreck  of  that  faith  for  which  our  reformers 
so  earnestly  strove  and  so  willingly  bled :  1  entreat 
your  attention  while  1  discourse  further  on  a  subject, 
which,  in  its  importance,  infinitely  exceeds  every 
other :  '  For  the  things  which  are  seen  are  temporal : 
but  the  things  which  are  not  seen  are  eternal :'  2 
Cor.  iv,  18. 

Christianity,  then,  is  more  than  a  reputablepro/c5- 
siOH,  a  just  notion,  or  a  regular/om;,  however  valua- 
ble these  may  be  in  themselves  :  to  mistake  it  for 
these,  is  like  mistaking  an  image  for  a  man,  or  the 


388 


MISCELLANIES. 


shadow  of  any  thing  for  the  thing  itself.  It  is  more 
than  an  outward  reformation  :  for  this  is  but  lopping 
off  the  branches  of  a  bad  tree,  while  the  root  remains 
to  shoot  afresh. 

It  is  also  more  than  'doing  our  duty  toward  one 
another for  to  stop  here,  would  be  like  regarding 
your  fellow-servants  while  you  forgot  your  Master. 
Yea,  we  shall  fall  short  of  our  mark,  if  we  only  re- 
gard what  we  are  to  'do  for  our  great  Master  him- 
self:' since  the  Gospel  principally  discovers  what  'he 
hath  done'  for  us  :  and  this  discovery  is  declared  to  be 
of  such  importance,  that  our  eternal  state  depends 
upon  the  regard  we  pay  to  it:  Mark  xvi,  15,  16.  If, 
indeed,  our  religion  were  not  more  than  some  moral- 
ists teach,  the  figurative  atonements  made  before 
Christ  came,  and  the  real  one  made  by  him  on  the 
cross,  would  not  only  be  an  immense,  but  unnecessar} 
expense ;  and  the  promise  of  a  Divine  Spirit  and  a 
new  heart,  Ezek.  xxxvi.  26,  unaccountable.  On  the 
other  hand,  the  cross  of  Christ,  and  the  promise  of 
his  Spirit,  point  out  the  depth  of  that  misery  into 
which  sin  has  plunged  us.  They  show,  that  '  with- 
out shedding  of  blood'  there  '  is  no  remission,'  Heb. 
ix,  22  ;  and  that,  without  such  a  repentance  or  change 
of  mind  takes  place  in  the  sinner,  as  may  be  com- 
pared to  his  being  'born  again,  he  cannot  see  the 
kingdom  of  God  :'  John  iii,  3. 

To  speak  as  plainly  as  I  can  on  such  a  subject. 
Christianity  sets  forth  the  benefits  which  fallen  crea- 
tures derive  from  a  Redeemer,  who  is  no  less  than 
'God  manifest  in  the  flesh,'  1  Tim.  iii,  16  ;  and  these 
benefits  consist  in  that  which  he  wrought  for  them, 
and  that  which  he  works  them.  At  the  same  time 
it  discovers,  that  '  without  him,  they  can  do  nothing' 
for  themselves  :  John  xv,  5. 

'Who,'  in  this  respect,  'hath  believed  our  report? 
and  to  whom  is  the  arm  of  the  Lord  revealed  ?'  For 
ns,  if  indeed  we  are  his  disciples,  he  'grew  up  as  a 


FRIENDLY  ADVICE  TO  SERVANTS.  389 


tender  plant :'  for  us  '  he  was  despised  and  rejected  of 
men and  after  speaking  to  our  case  as  man  never 
spake,  and  perfoxming  such  wonders  as  man  never 
wrought, '  our  iniquity  was  laid  upon  him,'  and  '  he 
was  brought  as  a  lamb  to  the  slaughter.'  There,  '  foi- 
us  men,  and  for  our  salvation,  it  pleased  the  Lord  to 
bruise  him,  and  to  make  his  soul  an  offering  for  sin  :' 
Isa.  liii,  1 — 10.  'For  us,'  also,  'he  gave  himself,' 
Titus  ii,  14;  and  'bare  our  sins  in  his  own  body  on 
the  tree,'  1  Pet.  ii,  24  ;  '  the  just  for  the  unjust,  that 
he  might  bring  us  to  God,'  iii,  1 8  ;  and,  having  died 
for  us,  for  us  also  he  rose,  '  leading  Captivity  captive, 
and  receiving  gifts  for  men  :'  Eph.  iv,  8.  But  it  was 
not  only  for  us  that  he  did  this :  he  also  sends  these 
purchased  gifts  into  our  hearts.  It  is  in  us  that  he 
sets  up  his  '  kingdom  of  righteousness,  peace,  and  joy 
in  the  Holy  Ghost:'  Rom.  xiv,  17.  It  is  m  ?/6f  that 
he  works  repentance,  faith,  hope,  and  love ;  and  all 
those  genuine  '  fruits  of  righteousness,  which  are  by 
Jesus  Christ  to  the  glory  and  praise  of  God :'  Phil,  i, 
11.  This  is  that  'life  of  God  in  the  soul  of  man,' 
which  is  the  earnest  and  foretaste  of  life  eternal  :  and 
this  our  Lord  has  taught  us  to  expect,  that  we  shall  as 
really  and  actually  derive  from  himself,  and  receive 
into  our  hearts,  as  the  branch  really  and  actually  re- 
ceives life,  sap,  or  nourishment  from  the  vine,  to  which 
it  is  united  :  John  xv,  4. 

As  he  sat  on  the  well,  discoursing  with  a  woman  of 
Samaria,  he  taught  the  same  truth  by  another  figure, 
when  he  said,  '  If  thou  knewest  the  gift  of  God,  and 
who  it  is  that  saith  to  thee.  Give  me  drink,  thou 
wouldest  have  asked  of  him,  and  he  would  have  given 
thee  living  water.  Whosoever  drinketh  of  this  water 
shall  thirst  again :  but  whosoever  drinketh  of  the  wa- 
ter that  I  shall  give  him,  shall  never  thirst ;  but  the 
water  that  1  shall  give  him  shall  be  in  him  a  well  of 
water  springing  up  into  everlasting  life  John  iv,  10, 
13,  14.  Accordingly,  in  the  great  day  of  the  feast. 
VOL.  II.  34 


390 


MISCELLANIES. 


Jesus  stood,  and  again  proclaimed  his  best  gift;  and 
promised  to  every  thirsty  soul  a  spring  of  divine  and 
eternal  life,  derived  indeed  from  himself,  but  to  spring 
up  in  the  heart  of  the  believer :  and,  lest  his  meaning 
should  not  be  comprehended  by  every  one,  the  Evan- 
gelist adds,  'This  spake  he  of  the  Spirit,  which  they 
that  believe  on  him  shall  receive :'  John  vii,  37 — 39. 

Thus  securing  us  from  all  we  /ear,  and  supplying 
us  with  all  we  need^  he  becomes  completely  our 
Saviour. 

Let  me  further  hint,  that,  by  attending  to  these 
l)rinciples,  you  will  be  enabled  to  detect  the  more 
plausible  errors  which  you  meet  with.  Examine, 
when  a  doctrine  is  presented,  whether  it  does  not  tend 
to  oppose,  or  to  explain  away  one  or  other  of  these 
two  branches  of  Christianity  :  either  what  Christ  does 
for  the  sinner,  by  the  merit  of  his  blood  ;  or  what  he 
does  in  the  sinner,  by  the  power  of  his  Spirit. 

1  cannot,  indeed,  in  a  few  words,  convey  a  more 
plain  and  scriptural  account  of  these  truths,  than  in 
the  following  short  extract  from  the  Articles  of  the 
Church  of  England,  which  maintain,  That  "  there  is  a 
fault  and  corruption  in  the  nature  of  every  man  that 
naturally  is  engendered  of  the  offspring  of  Adam : 
whereby  man  is  very  far  gone  from  original  righteous- 
ness, and  is  of  his  own  nature  inclined  to  evil."  Art. 
ix.  It  is  further  declared,  that,  "the  condition  of 
man,  after  the  fall  of  Adam,  is  such,  that  he  cannot 
turn  and  prepare  himself,  by  his  own  natural  strength 
and  good  works,  to  faith  and  calling  upon  God  :  hav- 
ing no  power  to  do  good  works  pleasant  and  acceptable 
to  God,  without  his  grace."  Art.  x.  Do  you  ask, 
•'  Upon  what  foundation  can  we  now  stand  before 
God  ?"  The  answer  is.  Upon  that  only  which  he 
himself  hath  laid ;  for  '  we  are  accounted  righteous 
before  God  only  for  the  merit  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour 
Jesus  Christ,  by  faith ;  and  not  for  our  own  w  orks  and 
deservings.'  Art.  xi.   Do  you  further  ask,  "  Of  what 


FRIENDLY  ADVICE  TO  SERVANTS.  391 


value  then  are  these  works  of  ours,  since  they  cannot 
justify  us  before  God  ?"  The  Church  well  replies, 
"  Albeit,  that  good  works,  which  are  the  fruits  of  faith, 
and  follow  after  justification,  cannot  put  away  our 
sins,  and  endure  the  severity  of  God's  judgment ;  yet 
are  they  pleasing  and  acceptable  to  God  in  Christ ; 
and  do  spring  out  necessarily  of  a  true  and  lively 
Faith ;  insomuch,  that  by  them  a  lively  faith  may  be 
as  evidently  known  as  a  tree  discerned  by  the  fruit." 
Art.  xii. 

If  this  be  Christianity,  let  the  reader  stop  and  in- 
quire what  he  knows  of  it.  Let  him  seriously  reflect 
on  the  course  of  his  life ;  on  his  views  and  his  hopes  : 
that  is,  let  him  honestly  examine  his  heart,  and  consi- 
der whether  he  has  not  been  hitherto  wandering  far 
from  the  ways  and  counsel  of  God.  Undone,  as  we 
must  be,  till  we  find  out  our  condition  as  transgressors 
of  a  holy  law,  and  discover  a  hope  of  mercy,  '  through 
the  redemption  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus,'  yet  with 
what  unconcern  are  these  great  points  treated  'i 
Though  we  naturally  wander  like  lost  sheep,  who 
among  us  has  actually  returned  to  '  the  Shepherd  and 
Bishop  of  our  souls  ?'  And  yet,  strange  to  say,  who 
does  not  expect  to  be  considered  as  a  Christian  ? 
'  Lord,  what  is  man,  that  thou  shouldestbe  thus  mind- 
ful of  him  ?' — and.  What  is  man,  that  he  should  be  so 
unmindful  of  thee  and  of  himself? 

For  full  satisfaction  on  these  and  less  important 
points  in  religion,  search  the  Scriptures.  It  is  our 
Lord's  own  direction,  John  v,  39  ;  and  it  is  recorded, 
to  the  honour  of  some  people  at  Berea,  that  they 
were  '  more  noble'  than  those  in  Thessalonica,  not 
only  in  '  that  they  received  the  word  with  all  readiness 
of  mind;'  but  that,  instead  of  listening  to  senseless 
prejudice  and  rash  opposition,  like  their  neighbours, 
•  they  searched  the  Scriptures  daily,  whether  these 
things  were  so:'  Acts  xvii,  11.  Let  me  entreat  yon 
lo  imitate  the  nobler  mind  of  this  ingenuous  people, 


392 


MISCELLANIES. 


especially  as  your  Bible  contains  not  only  these  lead- 
ing truths,  but  a  variety  of  examples,  directions,  and 
encouragements,  connected  with  them.  It  not  only 
leads,  but  animates :  it  not  only  discovers,  but  sup- 
ports ;  and,  therefore,  is  to  be  the  constant  '  lamp  to 
your  feet,  and  light  to  your  paths,'  Ps.  cxix,  105 — the 
staff  upon  which  you  are  to  lean  every  step  of  your 
way. 

My  design  in  mentioning  these  truths,  is  to  remind 
the  members  of  our  Church  of  their  principles ;  to 
place  the  feet  of  the  inexperienced  in  the  ancient 
track,  and  to  put  them  upon  their  guard.  For  want 
of  caution,  and  some  assistance  at  first  setting  out, 
well-meaning  people  have  been  miserably  perplexed 
and  discouraged  in  their  course,  or  drawn  aside  by 
seducers  :  for  '  while  men  slept,  the  enemy  came  and 
sowed  tares Matt,  xiii,  25. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

PREJUDICES. 

From  what  has  been  stated,  it  plainly  appears  that 
Religion  is  a  lively  tree,  bearing  heavenly  fruits  ;  '  the 
planting  of  the  Lord,  in  which  he  will  be  glorified :' 
Isa.  Ixi,  3  :  his  noblest  and  most  expensive  work.  It 
is  no  wonder,  then,  that  the  great  adversary  of  God 
and  man  should  be  ever  raising  prejudices  against  it : 
not  indeed  against  the  form,  but  against  the  power  of 
godliness.  Among  other  objections  which  I  have  not 
room  to  mention,  none  is  more  common  than  that 
which  represents  serious  religion  as  the  death  of 
happiness  and  the  grave  of  business  ;  and  of  this,  you 
will  not  fail  to  have  certain  instances  pointed  out  as 
proofs. 

But  those  instances  are  impositions.    They  are  not 


FRIENDLY  ADVICE  TO  SERVANTS 


393 


the  effects  of  true  religion,  but  of  the  reverse :  '  for 
the  fruit  of  the  Spirit  is  love,  joy,  peace,  long-suffer- 
iug,  gentleness,  goodness,  faith,  meekness,  and  tem- 
perance :'  Gal.  V,  22,  23.  Are  these  terms  for  wretch- 
cdne'ss  ?  or,  are  these  fruits  likely  to  produce  it  / 

A  penitent,  indeed,  like  the  jailor,  may,  upon  being 
awakened  to  a  sense  of  his  danger,  express  this  sense 
with  terror,  and  anxiously  cry  out,  '  What  must  I  do 
to  be  saved  ?'  Acts  xvi,  30.  And  a  backslider,  like 
Peter,  cut  to  the  heart  with  a  sense  of  his  ingratitude, 
may,  for  a  while,  seek  a  retreat  where  he  may  go 
aside  to  weep  bitterly.  There  is  a  season  of  correc- 
tion, a  time  to  mourn,  Eccl.  iii,  4,  which,  like  a  dark 
cloud  to  the  husbandman,  is  generally  followed  by  a 
fruitful  season.  What  wisdom  would  there  have  been 
in  any  of  us,  if  we  had  never  known  sorrow  ?  but, 
though  such  a  'weeping  endureth  for  a  night,  joy 
Cometh  in  the  morning:'  Ps.  xxx,  5.  A  true,  solid, 
abiding  satisfaction !  liable,  indeed,  like  every  thina 
below,  to  interruptions ;  but  such  as  a  man  feels  upoli 
the  recovery  of  his  health,  through  a  salutary  though 
painful  course  of  medicine.  No  one  ever  deemed 
such  an  one  unhappy,  because  he  underwent  some 
pain  in  order  to  a  sound  cure. 

A  Christian  of  a  peevish  or  melancholy  turn  ma} 
be  found ;  but,  like  a  tree  without  its  proper  fruit, 
though  he  may  be  alive,  he  is  not  well.  We  are  not 
allowed  to  call  him  a  dead  or  bad  tree,  because  he 
does  not  flourish  for  the  present  season  •,  but,  for  the 
same  reason,  we  cannot  say  he  is  a  healthy  one ;  or. 
in  another  view,  such  a  Christian  is  yet  a  child,  and 
therefore  imperfect  in  measure  :  he  is  also  at  school, 
and  has  not  thoroughly  learned  his  lesson. 

True  religion  is  the  life,  lYCalth,  and  education  of 
the  soul ;  and  whoever  truly  possesses  it,  is  strengthen- 
ed with  peculiar  encouragement  for  every  good  word 
and  work.  Surely,  if  any  thing  can  warm  and  ani- 
mate the  heart  of  man,  and  enable  him  to  beariipnu 

Vor..  Tr.  34* 


394 


MISCELLANIES. 


tier  difficulties,  it  must  be  an  assurance  that  '  the  eter- 
nal God  is  his  refuge,'  and  that  '  the  everlasting  a^m!^ 
are  underneath  him,'  Deut.  xxxiii,  27  :  that '  all  things 
shall  work  together  for  his  good,'  Rom.  vii,  28  :  and 
that  his  '  light  affliction,  which  is  but  for  a  moment, 
shall  work  for  him  a  far  more  exceeding  and  eternal 
weight  of  glory :'  2  Cor.  iv,  17. 

Admitting  that  other  men  have  their  hopes  and 
joys,  can  they  be  compared  with  these  ?  '  Their* 
comforts  depend  upon  their  '  corn,  and  wine'  and  '  oil 
increasing :'  but  a  believer  can  say,  '  Though  the  fig- 
tree  shall  not  blossom,  neither  shall  fruit  be  in  tht- 
vines,  and  the  labour  of  the  oHve  shall  fail ;  yet  I  will 
rejoice  in  the  Lord  :  I  will  joy  in  the  God  of  my  sal- 
vation :'  Hab.  iii,  17,  18. 

I  entreat  you,  therefore,  henceforward  to  consider 
rehgion  as  the  true  spring  of  solid  happiness ;  it  con- 
sistently bids  its  disciples  to  rejoice  alzoay,  Phil,  iv,  4  : 
because  it  affords  them  matter  for  rejoicing  under  the 
loss  of  all  things ;  "  in  the  hour  of  death,  and  in  the 
day  of  judgment !" 

As  to  the  article  of  business,  for  what  is  not  a  reli- 
gious man  prepared,  to  which  he  can  be  called .' 
The  /ear  of  God  fits  him  to  be  entrusted;  the  favour 
of  God  raises  and  animates  his  expectations :  the 
promise  of  God  supports  him  under  difliculties : 
the  word  of  God  gives  general  direction  to  his  steps  : 
and  the  blessing  of  God  attends  them.  You  shall, 
however,  not  take  my  word  for  this :  you  shall  see 
the  fact. 

Compare  any  irreligious  servant  with  that  servant 
of  Abraham  whose  character  is  recorded  in  Gen. 
xxiv.  What  a  holy  acquaintance  had  this  man  form- 
ed with  his  God !  what  reliance  on  his  providence  I 
what  fidelity  to  his  master !  what  diligence !  what  real 
dignity  of  character,  though  in  service !  '  He  ruled 
over  all  that  Abraham  had,'  but  forgot  not  that  he  was 
still  Abraham's  servant.    Entrasted  with  a  business 


FRIENDLY  ADVICE  TO  SERVANTS. 


395 


of  the  last  importance,  he  conducted  it  as  his  own : 
or,  as  the  Apostle  speaks,  'with  singleness  of  heart, 
as  unto  the  Lord :'  Eph.  vi,  5.  As  he  approached 
the  place  of  his  business,  'he  made  the  camels  to 
kneel  down  without  the  city,  by  a  well  of  water and 
knowing  from  whom  all  our  help  cometh,  he  said,  '  O 
Lord  God  of  my  master  Abraham,  I  pray  thee  send 
me  good  speed  this  day,  and  show  kindness  unto  my 
master.'  On  observing  signs  of  success  in  answer  to 
his  prayer,  he  blesses  the  God  of  his  master ;  and,  on 
his  business  being  successfully  concluded,  he  again 
'  worships  the  Lord — transacting  his  concerns  more 
with  God  than  with  man,  and  mixing  prayer  with 
praise  in  every  stage  of  it. 

Nor  suppose  that  he  was  less  diligent  because  he 
was  so  devout :  '  fervent  in  spirit,'  he  was  not  '  sloth- 
ful in  business:'  Rom.  xii,  11.  An  idle  enthusiast 
may  disgrace  religion,  and  a  real  Christian  may  have 
his  faults  :  but  Religion  itself  is  the  friend  of  Business. 
It  directs  it :  it  transacts  it  honourably :  it  generally 
secures  success  to  it.  Doing  business  with  diligence 
and  truth  appears  to  have  been  a  part  of  this  man's 
religion.  He,  and  the  men  that  were  with  him,  '  tar- 
ried that  night ;  and  they  arose  up  in  the  morning,  and 
he  said,  Send  me  away  unto  my  master.'  And  when 
the  brother  and  the  mother  of  the  damsel,  whom  he 
had  sought  in  marriage  for  his  master's  son,  would 
have  detained  him  a  few  days,  '  he  said  unto  them. 
Hinder  me  not,  seeing  the  Lord  hath  prospered  ni\ 
way.    Send  mc  away,  that  1  may  go  to  my  master.' 

Now  compare,  as  1  said,  the  wisdom  and  worth  of 
this  servant  of  God,  with  the  folly  and  falsehood  oi 
such  a  slave  to  gold  as  Gehazi,  2  Kings  v,  and  you 
will  perceive,  that,  when  Christ  said,  '  Take  my  yoke,' 
Matt,  xi,  29,  or  enter  into  my  service,  he  showed  Ui< 
the  only  way  to  freedom,  usefulness,  happiness,  oi' 
rest. 

Great  excellence,  indeed,  in  any  station,  has  alway? 


;i9l>  MISCELLANIES. 


been  rare ;  nor  should  the  characters  whom  I  am 
about  to  mention,  merely  as  models  for  imitation,  be 
made  standards  to  measure  others  bj,  or  become  oc- 
casions of  discouragement  to  any.  Such  comparisons 
would  be  odious.  Many,  who  are  truly  sincere  as 
Christians,  and  valuable  as  servants,  fall  short  of 
others  in  certain  respects.  Our  Lord  calls  that  ground 
good,  which  brought  forth  but  thirty;  though  other 
ground  produced  sixty  and  a  hundred  fold  :  Matt,  xiii, 
23.  Yet  excellence  is  not  confined  to  any  age ;  and 
servants,  hke  Abraham's  may  be  found  even  in  this. 

Some  years  ago  I  became  acquainted  vnth  a  ser- 
vant, whom  I  shall  call  Lucius :  one,  who,  knowing 
the  human  heart  in  its  deceitfulness  and  depravity, 
Jer.  xvii,  9,  stood  indeed  before  his  God,  like  the 
publican  '  smiting  upon  his  breast but,  before  his 
Master,  he  stood  with  an  integrity  and  diligence, 
which  his  master  had  long  observed,  and  which  at 
length  gained  his  entire  confidence.  Lord 
thought  and  talked  of  Christianity  like  many  more 
who  have  it  yet  to  learn  ;  but  he  Avas  constrained  to 
admire  its  effects  in  his  servant  Lucius.  He  saw  in 
him  evident  marks  of  the  fear  of  God ;  of  the  conso- 
lations of  the  gospel ;  of  the  truth  which  it  enjoins, 
and  the  devotion  which  it  inspires  :  but,  while  he  be- 
held all  this  as  a  singular  matter  of  fact,  maintained 
and  exercised  in  a  house  like  his,  he  was  equalh 
struck  in  observing,  that  Lucius  was  one  of  the  most 
humble  and  attentive  of  his  domestics,  and  no  less 
eminent  as  a  servant  than  as  a  saint.  The  unbeliev- 
ing Lord  (for  who  can  change  the  heart  but  God 
only  ?)  continued,  while  he  lived,  to  advance  and  vin- 
dicate the  Christian  servant :  and,  dying,  bequeathed 
a  solid  testimony  to  his  virtue. 

Them  that  honour  God  he  will  honour :  1  Sam.  ii. 
30.  And  he  will  send  the  honour  by  what  hand  he 
pleases. 

To  Ijucius,  the  servants  also  looked  a?  to  a  com- 


FRIENDLY  ADVICE  TO  SERVANTS.  397 


mbn  friend  or  brother:  he  instructed  them  :  he  assist- 
ed them :  he  reconciled  them :  he  was  their  example  ; 
and,  if  there  were  any  more  fooHsh  and  profligate  than 
the  rest,  he  had  the  honour  of  their  reproach.  I  need 
only  to  add,  that  I  mention  this  fact,  as  well  as  the 
former,  to  show  how  honourable  a  part  such  servants 
sustain  in  society ;  to  show  that  true  religion  is  the 
same  in  every  age ;  to  exhibit  the  fruits  of  genuine 
Christianity^  wherever  it  is  found  ;  and  to  encourage 
servants  to  higher  aims  than  they  usually  entertain. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

PIETY  ENCOURAGED. 

As  those,  who  have  been  awakened  to  a  serious  re- 
gard for  their  salvation  are  likely  to  be  among  the  first 
who  take  up  such  a  Tract  as  this,  their  character 
ought  to  be  particularly  remembered  in  it ;  for  their 
dangers,  as  well  as  their  privileges,  are  peculiar: 
throughout  this  chapter,  therefore,  I  speak  to  such 
only. 

And  let  me  affectionately  entreat  you,  my  Christian 
Friends,  '  to  walk  worthy  of  the  vocation  wherewith 
you  are  called,  with  all  lowliness  and  meekness 
Eph.  iv,  1 ,  2.  While  you  are  the  servants  of  God, 
be  careful  never  to  forget  that  he  has  appointed  you  to 
be  also  the  servants  of  man.  One  duty  should  never 
be  opposed  to  another  duty.  Our  religion  teaches  us 
to  adorn  our  station  ;  not  to  forget  it.  Beware,  there- 
fore, of  the  error  of  those,  who,  upon  taking  up  a  re- 
ligious profession,  have  become  conceited,  forward, 
and  unmindful  of  that  order  and  decorum  which  God 
has  appointed  for  the  well-being  of  societv. 

Instead  of  disgusting  your  master  by  such  a  conduct, 
endeavour,  by  every  lawful  means,  but  by  no  other 
whatever,  to  secure  a  place  in  his  esteem,  xis  well  as 


398 


MISCELLANIES. 


in  his  house ;  and,  in  order  to  this,  let  your  dihgence 
be  as  his  right  hand,  and  your  care  as  his  right  eye. 
Study  his  temper  and  his  interest,  and  your  own  will 
be  studied  at  the  same  time. 

'  A  certain  centurion's  servant,  who  was  dear  to 
him,  was  sick,  and  ready  to  die.  And,  when  he  heard 
of  Jesus,  he  sent  unto  him  the  elders  of  the  Jews, 
beseeching  him  to  come  and  heal  his  servant :'  Luke 
vii,  2,  3.  You  may  here  remark,  how  dear  a  servant 
may  render  himself  to  his  employer;  and  how  God 
causes  one  good  office  to  be  repaid  by  another. 

But  I  will  come  nearer  home.  Lydia  is  the  ser- 
vant of  a  small  family,  whose  mistress  I  lately  visited 
after  a  long  illness.  "  Sir,"  said  she,  the  girl  who 
has  just  left  the  room,  is  a  greater  comfort  to  me  than 
I  can  express.  She  watches  me  with  the  affection  ol 
a  daughter,  and  the  care  of  a  nurse.  When  my  com- 
plaints make  me  peevish,  she  contrives  something  to 
sooth  me.  I  often  observe  her  taking  pains  to  disco- 
ver what  would  add  to  my  comfort;  and  often  am 
presented  with  the  thing  I  wish  for,  before  I  express 
it  in  words.  I  live  without  suspicion  :  for  I  perceive 
her  to  be  conscientious,  even  to  scrupulosity.  My 
chief  complaint  is,  that  she  takes  so  much  care  of 
me,  that  I  cannot  make  her  take  sufficient  care  of 
herself." 

"  I  have  observed,"  said  I,  "  her  attention  at  church, 
as  well  as  when  waiting  upon  you." 

"  My  servant,"  continued  she, is  a  Christian ;  and, 
in  my  late  distress,  afforded  me  her  prayers  as  well  as 
her  tears.  Her  parents  were  too  poor  to  give  her 
any  education ;  but  she  has  taught  herself  to  read, 
and  frequently  reads  the  Scriptures  to  me.  Now 
and  then,  while  she  is  reading,  her  heart  is  too  full  to 
be  quite  silent  on  the  passage ;  and  then  she  drops  an 
expression  or  two,  accompanied  with  such  simplicity 
and  meaning,  as  to  bring  to  my  mind  those  words,  '  I 
rhank  thee,  O  Father,  Lord  of  Heaven  and  .  Earth. 


FRIENDLY  ADVICE  TO  SERVANTS. 


399 


that  thou  hast  hid  these  things  from  the  wise  and  pru- 
dent, and  hast  revealed  them  unto  babes :'  Luke  x, 
21.  In  short  I  esteem  her  one  of  the  most  valuable 
gifts  I  ever  received  from  an  indulgent  Providence ; 
and  never  could  have  supposed  that  so  much  of 
my  comfort  depended  on  the  faithfulness  and  care  of 
a  poor  servant." 

After  saying  some  things  to  encourage  this  worthy 
girl,  as  I  passed  her  in  going  away,  I  could  not  help 
saying  also  to  myself,  "  How  much  better  do  these 
retired  virtues  deserve  recording  than  those  splendid 
mischiefs  which  historians  call  up  all  their  eloquence 
to  adorn !" 

But,  to  return.  Are  you  in  prosperous  circum- 
stances ?  Be  careful,  lest  you  forget  Him  who 
placed  you  in  them,  and  lest  you  abuse  these  ad- 
vantages to  the  dishonour  of  your  best  Friend.  Oft- 
en recollect,  that  jou  keep  your  present  station 
during  his  pleasure ;  and  consider,  with  pious  Nehe- 
miah,  that  every  heart  is  in  his  hand,  and  every  gift 
at  his  disposal. 

And  here,  by  the  way,  is  another  instance  of  a  man. 
who  found  that  earthly  business  is  never  so  well  con- 
ducted, as  by  heavenly  wisdom.  He  had  a  most  ardu- 
ous undertaking  before  him  ;  but,  with  God  for  his 
helper,  he  despaired  not  of  success.  He  requested 
his  master  that  he  might  be  permitted  to  pursue  his 
undertaking;  but  secretly  looked  to  God  alone  for 
the  answer  which  he  was  to  receive.  While  he  pre- 
sented wine  to  the  king,  he  worshipped  a  greater 
King! — even  one,  who,  he  knew,  'turns  the  hearts 
of  kings  as  the  rivers  of  water:'  Prov.  xxi.  1.  Bit- 
ter enemies  opposed  him  ;  but  a  man  like  Nehemiah 
always  knows  what  to  do  with  his  enemies :  he  puts 
them  into  God's  hand,  while  he  walks  wisely  and  up- 
rightly before  them.  Admirable  was  his  conduct, 
when  he  found  some  (whom  they  might  call  of  his 
own  sect)  acting  amiss.    With  a  holy  indignation  he 


400 


MISCELLANIES. 


testified  against  their  abases,  though  they  were  enga- 
ged with  him  in  the  same  general  design  :  he  expected 
no  success  but  in  the  way  of  righteousness  ;  and,  in 
this  way,  he  found  it. 

Let  us  thank  God  that  he  hath  given  such  examples 
as  these  for  every  station  in  life  ;  and  then  let  us  beg 
for  grace  to  imitate  them. 

Should  your  present  station  be  discouraging,  trust 
God  and  act  uprightly,  and  you  shall  succeed  at  length 
even  beyond  your  expectations.  I  may  encourage 
every  pious  servant,  as  Elisha  did  the  young  man 
that  served  him  :  '  Fear  not :  for  they  that  be  with  us 
are  more  than  they  that  be  with  them:'  2  Kings  vi. 
16.  It  was  in  a  patient,  faithful  service,  under  hard 
treatment,  that  Jacob  found  a  friend  to  plead  his  cause, 
which  his  master  could  not  but  notice  :  '  1  have  learn- 
ed,' said  Laban,  '  by  experience,  that  the  Lord  hath 
blessed  me  for  thy  sake :'  Gen.  xxx,  27.  The  bles- 
sing of  Abraham  was  the  portion  of  Jacob,  and,  we 
are  assured,  shall  be  equally  the  portion  of  every 
Christian,  to  the  end  of  time;  for  '  if  ye  be  Christ's, 
then  are  ye  Abraham's  seed,  and  heirs  according  to 
the  promise:'  Gal.  iii,  29. 

Read  what  a  train  of  difficulties  Joseph  had  to  en- 
counter. Hated  by  his  brethren, — falsely  accused  b> 
his  mistress, — and  imprisoned  for  his  integrity,  still. 
Jike  '  the  moon  walking  in  brightness,'  he  continued  to 
shine  through  a  disasterous  night :  securely  relying  on 
him  '  who  cannot  he ;'  and  who  promises  to  make 
'  all  things  work  together  for  good,  to  them  that  love 
him:'  Rom.  viii,  28. 

Affliction  is  a  school  in  which  a  good  man  learns  not 
only  to  be  wise ;  but,  in  the  end,  to  be  thankful.  I 
have  somewhere  read  of  a  poor  servant  or  slave,  who. 
under  great  severity,  had  fled  from  the  worst  of  mas- 
ters to  the  best.  I  mean  he  had  sought  rest  in  the  bo- 
som of  Jesus  Christ,  the  common  Friend  of  the  wea- 
yy  and  heavy  laden.    This  man  was  so  impressed  with 


FRIENDLY  ADVICE  TO  SERVANTS.  401 


a  sense  of  the  benefits  which  he  had  derived  from  his 
afflictions,  that,  lying  on  his  death-bed,  and  seeing  his 
master  standing  by,  he  eagerly  caught  the  hands  of 
his  oppressor,  and  kissing  them,  said,  "  These  hands 
have  brought  me  to  Heaven." 

In  dark  and  perplexing  cases,  study  the  histories  of 
Jacob.  Joseph,  Nehemiah,  Daniel,  and  other  eminent 
characters  who  lived  in  difficult  services ;  and  learn 
from  them  to  trust,  where  you  cannot  trace,  the  de- 
signs of  Providence.  If  at  any  time  you  are  discour- 
aged in  your  endeavours  to  please  man.  look  to  God  ; 
he  will  accept  the  feeblest  service  done  for  his  sake  : 
he  is  easy  to  be  pleased,  though  man  is  not.  He  rends 
the  rocks,  but  will  not  '  break  a  bruised  reed  :'  Isa. 
xlii,  3.  He  inhabits  eternitv.  and  he  dwells  also  in 
'  the  humble  and  contrite  heart :'  Isa.  Ivii,  15. 

A  Christian  servant  considers  his  work  as  appointed 
of  _God.  though  delivered  to  him  by  the  hand  of  man  : 
he  is.  therefore,  found  serving  God  in  his  worldly  ser- 
vice; performing  it,  not  only  as  in  his  sight,  but  also 
as  his  zvill.  And  this  softens  his  yoke,  and  removes 
the  mistake  of  his  service  being  a  meanness  or  a 
drudgery  :  since  he  knows  that  it  is  both  the  honour 
and  the  joy  of  angels  to  do  their  Lord's  will ;  whether 
it  be  to  crush  an  immense  army,  like  Sennacherib's, 
2  Kings  xix,  35,  or  to  wait  upon  a  poor  prisoner,  like 
Peter :  Acts  xii,  7. 

One  of  the  wisest  of  the  ancient  philosophers  (who 
nevertheless  lived  and  died  in  service)  observes.  That 
•"here,  as  in  a  theatre,  every  one  of  us  has  his  proper 
part  allotted  to  him  :  nor  should  we  regard  who  is  ap- 
pointed to  act  the  prince,  or  who  the  beggar  ;  who  the 
master,  or  who  the  servant ;  but  who  shall  perform  his 
own  part  best."  And  a  wiser  than  he  exhorts,  '  Art 
thou  called  being  a  servant!  Care  not  for  it:'  that 
is,  it  is  a  small  and  momentary  consideration  to  one 
who  has  such  views  and  hopes  as  a  Chrstian :  '  for 

VOL.  II.  35 


402 


MISCELLANIES. 


he,  that  is  called  in  the  Lord,  being  a  servant,  is  the 
Lord's  freeman  :'  1  Cor.  vii,  21,  22. 

It  is  also  such  a  servant's  comfort  to  know,  that, 
whatever  part  or  service  he  is  appointed  to  perform, 
and  whatever  present  discouragements  he  meets,  his 
'  labour  shall  not  be  in  vain  in  the  Lord  :'  1  Cor.  xv, 
58.  He  is  a  master  who  may  raise  vast  expectations 
in  the  hearts  of  his  servants,  but  he  cannot  disappoint 
the  least.  The  dying  reflection  of  a  servant  of  one 
of  our  English  kings  is  full  of  instruction  to  us  all  in 
this  respect.  Stript  in  his  old  age  of  that  honour  and 
wealth  to  which  he  had  been  raised,  and  to  which  few 
subjects  ever  attained,  he  justly  exclaimed,  "  Had  I 
but  served  my  God  as  faithfully  as  I  have  served  my 
master,  he  would  not  have  forsaken  me  in  my  grey 
hairs." 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

DISCRETION. 

Should  it  be  your  lot  to  dwell  where  disorder  and 
profaneness  prevail,  and  where  your  serious  views 
and  conscientious  regard  to  God  and  his  word  may  be 
scorned,  be  in  nothing  '  terrified  by  your  adversaries  : 
which  is  to  them  an  evident  token  of  perdition ;  but 
to  you  of  salvation,  and  that  of  God  :  for  to  you  it  is 
given  in  behalf  of  Christ,  not  only  to  believe  on  him. 
but  also  to  sufier  for  his  sake  :'  Phil,  i,  28,  29. 

Endeavour  also  to  derive  instruction  even  from  such 
scenes  as  these :  for  every  place  is  a  school  to  the 
wise.  Observe  how  every  thing  proves  the  value  of 
religion.  See  how  man  sinks  into  ruin  and  wretched- 
ness as  he  forsakes  his  God.  Observe  in  what  a  va- 
riety of  ways  the  corruption  of  nature  breaks  out, 
particularly  in  the  tongue ;  '  that  world  of  iniquity 
James  iii,  6.    Mark  how  vile  a  slavery  sin  is;  and 


FRIENDLY  ADVICE  TO  SERVANTS.  403 


how  degraded  a  character  every  man  becomes,  who 
Uves  under  its  dominion :  forgetting  God,  like  the  pro- 
digal, he  forgets  himself ;  and  wanders  on,  committing 
outrages  against  every  thing  sacred  and  serious.  Ob- 
serve also,  that  these  very  outrages,  like  the  ravings  of 
a  poor  lunatic  against  his  friends  and  his  remedies, 
not  only  show  the  pitiable  condition  in  which  he  lies : 
but  may  serve  also  to  remind  you  of  the  value  of  that 
relief  and  cure  which  the  Gospel  affords  ;  a  remedy, 
which  the  unhappy  scoffer  so  much  despises,  and  so 
much  needs  :  you  know  that  it  would  bring  him  back 
to  a  Father :  you  feel  that  it  would  bring  him  to  him- 
self. Need  I  add  here,  that  such  a  wretched  state  of 
things  is  a  constant  occasion  of  gratitude  to  a  Chris- 
tian for  his  own  deliverance ;  and  should  teach  him 
continually  to  cry,  " '  What  shall  I  render  to  the  Lord 
for  all  his  benefits?'  Ps.  cxvi,  12;  and  how  shall  I 
best  recommend  these  benefits  to  others  ?" 

On  this  subiect  permit  me  to  drop  a  few  hints. 

In  whatever  circumstances  yon  live,  endeavour  to 
do  all  the  good  you  can,  with  the  least  harm  :  and,  to 
this  end,  be  careful  that  the  face  of  your  profession 
be  as  sober  and  amiable  as  possible  :  'walking  in  wis- 
dom toward  them  that  are  without,'  Col.  iv,  5  :  or  as 
the  Psalmist  expresses  it,  '  I  will  behave  myself  wise- 
ly in  a  perfect  way  :'  Ps.  ci,  2.  There  is  a  crude  or 
unripe  sort  of  piety,  which  indeed  ought  not  to  be 
mistaken  for  hypocrisy,  but  is  so  like  it,  that  the  mis- 
take is  easily  made. 

The  following  account,  given  me  by  one,  whom 
from  the  frankness  of  his  acknowledgments,  I  ought 
to  call  Honestus,  will  sufficiently  explain  what  I 
mean : — 

"  Though,  at  my  first  setting  out  in  religion,"  said  he, 
I  was  sincere  in  the  main,  1  was  yet  so  enthusiastic  and 
conceited,  so  harsh  and  untractable,  that  mv  most  can- 
did acquaintance  scarcely  knew  what  to  make  of  me.  I 
mistook  a  stiff  and  whimsical  singularity  for  Christian 


404 


MISCELLANIES. 


simplicity ;  little  suspecting  the  temper  which  lui-ked 
under  it.  When  I  had  been  rude,  I  called  it  Faithful- 
ness ;  and,  when  I  sufJered  for  my  rashness  or  impru- 
dence, I  supposed  it  was  for  righteousness'  sake. 
Other  Christians  met  persecution ;  but  I  invited  it : 
others  left  the  world :  but  I  quarrelled  with  it.  So 
little  did  I  consider  the  time  and  place  for  serious 
things,  and  introduced  them  in  so  strange  and  im- 
proper a  way,  that  when  I  tried  to  make  my  friends 
serious,  I  often  provoked  them  to  smile ! 

"  These  mistakes,"  said  he,  "while  they  took  away 
all  weight  from  my  character,  occasioned  disgust  at 
other  things  in  me,  which  were  scriptural  and  praise- 
worthy ;  and  made  me  rather  a  hindrance  to  the 
cause  of  religion  than  a  help :  for,  while  I  justly 
lamented  the  errors  of  those  I  lived  with,  I  forgot  that 
I,  in  some  measure,  promoted  the  very  errors  I 
lamented.  I  considered  hot,  that  for  want  of  mixing 
good  sense  with  good  things,  I  myself  became  a  sort  of 
argument  for  their  vanity  and  extravagance.  Were 
they  checked  at  any  time  on  these  accounts,  they  im- 
mediately cried,  '  What !  would  you  advise  us  to  imi- 
tate Honestus  V  " 

They,  who  have  the  cause  of  true  religion  at  heart, 
cannot  but  be  grieved  when  they  see  it  thus  misrepre- 
sented ;  and  that,  not  only  by  designing  hypocrites, 
but  by  men  who,  like  Honestus,  really  mean  well. 
Christianity  is  indeed  plain,  but  not  rude ;  simple,  but 
not  absurd  ;  mortified,  but  not  morose.  If  the  Chris- 
tian is  a  'pilgrim  and  a  stranger  upon  earth,'  Heb.  xi, 
1 3,  he  is  also,  like  Abraham  among  the  sons  of  Heth, 
Gen.  xxiii,  to  be  a  wise  and  amiable  stranger.  He 
should  be  too  simple,  to  fall  into  affectation  :  too  real 
a  character,  to  act  a  part:  and  too  well  acquainted 
with  the  evil  of  offences.  Matt,  xviii,  17,  to  raise  them 
unnecessarily.  In  a  word,  he  is  'not  to  be  as  the 
hypocrites,  who  disfigure  their  faces,' Matt,  vi,  16; 
nor  as  those  fanatics,  who  by  setting  up  one  truth 


FRIENDLY  ADVICE  TO  SERVANTS, 


40.0 


;igainst  another,  disfigure  the  Gospel.  It  is  as  the 
Apostle  speaks, '  By  manifestation  of  the  truth,'  that  is 
the  whole  truth,  practical  as  well  as  doctrinal,  that 
we  '  commend  ourselves'  and  our  religion  '  to  every 
man's  conscience  in  the  sight  of  God  :'  2  Cor.  iv,  2. 

Above  all,  when  you  treat  of  religious  subjects 
avoid  passionate  or  rude  expressions :  not  only  be- 
cause they  are  a  disgrace  to  your  profession :  but. 
also,  because  they  will  defeat  your  very  design :  '  for 
the  wrath  of  man  worketh  not  the  righteousness  of 
God  :'  James  i,  20. 

Whenever  you  are  called  to  give  an  account  of 
your  religious  profession,  or  of  any  particular  step 
which  you  are  obliged  to  take  for  conscience 
sake,  endeavour  to  commend  yourself  to  the  con- 
science of  the  inquirer,  especially  by  the  man- 
ner of  your  reply.  The  Scripture,  which  teaches 
us  to  be  ready  to  answer  such  inquiries,  charges 
us  also  to  do  it  with  '  meekness  and  fear :'  1  Pet. 
iii,  15. 

Elizabeth  found  she  could  be  spared  at  no  time  on 
the  Sunday  to  attend  the  public  worship  of  God,  and 
therefore  felt  it  her  duty  to  seek  another  place.  The 
lady  with  whom  she  lived  questioned  her  on  this  only 
act.  Elizabeth  was  humble,  and  naturally  backward 
to  speak :  but  being  pressed  to  open  her  mind,  she 
plainly  stated  what  she  felt ; — her  regard  to  God's  com^ 
mand,  the  benefit  she  had  found  in  attending  his  house, 
the  value  of  the  soul,  the  awful  approach  of  eternity, 
and  the  shortness  and  uncertainty  of  the  time  allotted 
her  to  prepare  for  it.  She  mentioned  also  "  the  ex- 
ceeding great  love  of  her  Master  and  only  Saviour  Je- 
sus Christ  in  dying  for  her,  and  the  innumerable  bene- 
fits obtained  thereby." 

But  what  more  particularly  leads  me  to  mention 
this  case,  is  the  Christian-like  spirit  with  which  her 
zeal  was  attended. 

vet,  II.  35* 


106 


MISCELLANIES. 


"  You  seem  to  be  very  sincere,"  said  the  lady,  and 
I  cannot  but  respect  your  piet)';  but,  on  many  ac- 
counts, I  should  not  choose  to  alter  the  rules  of  m\ 
lamily." 

"  Madam,"  she  replied,  "  though  1  am  obliged  to 
leave  you.  I  hope  I  shall  never  forget  the  many  kind- 
nesses I  have  received.  In  many  things  you  have 
treated  me  more  like  a  mother  than  like  a  mistress.  I 
can  truly  say,  That  your  favour  is  more  to  me  than 
that  of  any  one,  except  God's  :  but  he  tells  me,  That 
1  have  a  soul  which  must  be  saved  or  lost  for  ever.  1 
iind  I  cannot  live  without  hope,  and  I  can  have  no 
hope  but  in  his  ways.  May  he  abundantly  bless  you 
and  your  family,  while  I  trust  him  to  provide  for  me  !'" 

As  I  have  been  speaking  throughout  this  chapter  to 
such  only  as  make  a  serious  profession  of  religion,  1 
hope  that  what  has  been  said  will  be  sufficiently  plain 
(o  them. 

And  may  the  mistakes  which  I  have  mentioned,  and 
many  others,  which  I  have  not  room  to  notice,  be  fai 
removed  from  your  character,  my  Christian  Friends  ! 
Instead  of  such  doubtful  appearances.  '  do  all  thing-- 
without  murmurings  and  disputings,  that  ye  may  be 
blameless  and  harmless,  as  the  sons  of  God,  without 
rebuke,  in  the  midst  of  a  crooked  and  pen  erse  nation, 
among  whom,'  I  pray  earnestly  that^ye  may  -shine  a* 
lights  in  the  world :'  Phil,  ii,  14,  15, 


CHAPTER  IX. 

SUITABLE  SCRIPTURES. 

To  assist  you  as  Christian  servants  in  the  noblest  of  all 
aims,  I  shall,  in  this  chapter,  collect  together  those 
passE^es  of  Scripture  which  were  written  for  your 
particular  use.    You  will  have  them  here  in  one  vie^i . 


FRIENDLY  ADVICE  TO  SERVANTJ!, 


407 


and  at  hand :  and  I  wish  you  to  get  them  by  heart,  as 
infallible  rules  for  your  conduct  and  comfort. 

It  will  be  profitable  also  for  you  often  to  reflecl 
upon  them  as  part  of  the  very  profession  which  you 
make  among  men. 

It  is  as  if  you  said  to  the  rest  of  mankind,  '  Choose 
ye  whom  ye  will  serve  :'  but,  as  for  us,  we  are  the  fol- 
lowers of  one,  who,  with  the  greatest  promises,  has 
connected  the  following  commands ;  and  which,  as 
his  disciples,  we  receive  as  our  rules  of  action  : — '  Ser- 
vants, be  obedient  to  them  that  are  your  masters  ac- 
cording to  the  flesh,  with  fear  and  trembling,  in  single- 
ness' of  your  '  heart,  as  unto  Christ :  not  with  eye-ser- 
vice, as  men-pleasers  :  but  as  the  servants  of  Christ, 
doing  the  will  of  God  from  the  heart ;  with  good-will 
doing  service,  as  to  the  Lord,  and  not  to  men ;  know- 
ing that  whatsoever  good  thing  any  man  doeth,  the 
same  shall,  he  receive  of  the  Lord,  whether  he  be 
i)ond  or  free  :'  Eph.  vi,  5 — 8. 

Again  :  '  Let  as  many  servants  as  are  under  the 
yoke,  count  their  own  masters  worthy  of  all  honour, 
that  the  name  of  God  and  his  doctrine  be  not  blas- 
{)hemed :  and  they  that  have  believing  masters,  let 
them  not  despise  them'  (or  pay  them  less  respect) 
■  because  they  are  brethren ;  but  rather  do  them  ser- 
vice, because  they  are  faithful  and  beloved,  parta- 
kers of  the  benefit.  These  things  teach  and  exhort :" 
I  Tim.  vi,  1 ,  2. 

A  high  expectation  in  entering  the  house,  even  of  a 
believing  Master,  is  often  the  forerunner  of  disappoint- 
ment: and  a  high  spirit  will  not  only  disorder  any 
house ;  but  will  afterward  vent  itself  in  complaints, 
and  multiply  scandals. 

Martha  called  upon  me  in  trouble,  and  out  of  place  ; 
;ind  I  could  plainly  perceive,  even  from  her  own  ac- 
count, how  much  her  troubles  arose  from  her  miscon- 
duct. She  had  hastily  left  a  former  service,  where 
she  enjoyed  every  reasonable  privilege,  in  order  to  en- 


408 


MISCELLANIES. 


ter  the  house  of  a  wealthy  citizen,  where  her  t)wn  re- 
ligious views  were  embraced.  Martha  had  newly  ta- 
ken up  a  profession  of  religion :  but  had  not  learned 
much  more  than  half  her  lesson.  She  needed  the  ad- 
vice before  given,  about  changing  places  ;  and  though 
she  was  zealous  for  some  Scriptures,  she  had  over- 
looked others ;  particularly  such  as  I  am  collecting  in 
this  chapter. 

Martha  had  indeed  read,  That  '  if  any  seem  to  be 
rehgious,  and  bridle  not  his  tongue,'  such  a  '  man's  re- 
ligion is  vain,'  James  i,  26  :  yet  the  defects  which  she 
saw  in  the  family  (and  what  family  is  free  from  de- 
fects ?)  she  scrupled  not  to  censure,  both  at  home  and 
abroad.  Instead  of  charitably  covering,  or  patiently 
healing  any  disorder,  she  thoughtlessly  inflamed  it: 
and,  where  Humility  would  have  been  silent,  or  where 
Tenderness  would  have  contrived  an  apology,  she  was 
loo  ready  to  accuse,  and  too  eager  to  relate.  She  ex- 
pected many  allowances  in  such  a  house,  but  made 
few.  With  great  imperfections  herself,  she  wondered 
to  find  them  in  others ;  and,  while  she  complained 
that  the  Gospel  was  not  more  adorned  in  a  professing 
family  she  forgot  that  one  of  its  chief  ornaments  is  '  a 
meek  and  quiet  spirit.' 

Did  Martha  mean  that  '  the  name  of  God  and  his 
doctrine  should  be  blasphemed'  by  all  this  ?  Cer- 
tainly not.  But  why  did  she  not  consider  to  wha< 
such  a  conduct  as  her's  must  lead  ? 

I  would  fain  hope  that  this  character  is  not  ver} 
common ;  but,  knowing  that  it  really  exists,  I  could 
not  but  point  out  the  evil  of  it.  Is  Martha,  after  all. 
a  Christian  ?  Many  will  doubt  it :  it  would  bt 
Avell  if  she  doubted  it  herself.  Certain  it  is,  that, 
if  she  be  one,  the  further  she  advances  in  Chris- 
tianity, the  more  bitterly  will  she  lament  her  present 
mistakes. 

Let  us  return  again  to  the  words  of  the  Apostle, 
rerollccting  what  he  adds  to  those  last  quoted :  '  It 


FRIENDLY  ADVICE  TO  SERVANTS.  409 


any  man  teach  otherwise,  and  consent  not  to  whole- 
some words,  even  the  words  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
and  the  doctrine  which  is  according  to  godliness,  he  is 
proud,  knowing  nothing.'    1  Tim.  vi,  3,  4. 

'  Exhort  servants  to  be  obedient  to  their  own  mas- 
ters, and  to  please  them  well  in  all  things ;  not  an- 
swering again :  not  purloining,  but  showing  all  good 
fidelity  ;  that  they  may  adorn  the  doctrine  of  God  our 
Saviour  in  all  things  :'  Tit.  ii,  9,  10. 

If  others  say,  "  1  am  disposed  to  act  well  when  I 
am  treated  well,"  a  Christian  should  recollect,  that 
the  conduct  above  mentioned  is  enjoined,  '  not  only 
to  the  good  and  gentle,  but  also  to  the  froward :  for 
this  is  thank-worthy,  if  a  man  for  conscience'  sake 
'  toward  God,  endure  grief,  suffering  wrongfully.  For 
what  glory  is  it,  if,  when  ye  be  buffeted  for  your 
faults,  ye  shall  take  it  patiently  ?  but,  if,  when  ye  do 
well,  and  suffer  for  it,  ye  take  it  patiently,  this  is  ac- 
ceptable with  God.  For  even  hereunto  were  ye 
called:'  1  Pet.  ii,  18—21. 

Bear  with  me  tlien,  my  Christian  friends,  while  in 
love  I  warn  you  to  reflect,  that  if,  instead  of  regarding 
this  your  profession,  any  one  of  you  should  leave  the 
parlour  with  murmurs,-^if  he  should  enter  among 
his  fellow-servants  with  angry  and  reproachful  ex- 
pressions, when  his  will  is  crossed,  or  his  conduct 
blamed, — if  he  should  slight  the  family-worship,  be- 
cause it  may  not  be  conducted  exactly  to  his  taste, — if 
he  should  make  light  of  a  stated  agreement  or  con- 
tract, or  forget  that  the  inordinate  '  love  of  money  is 
the  root  of  all  evil,'  1  Tim.  vi,  lOj  and  prepares  the 
lieart  for  every  thing  that  is  mean  and  false, — if  he 
should  be  found  wasting,  or  making  away  with  that 
which  is  entrusted  to  his  care,  and  employing  a  secre- 
cy in  it  which  proves  the  guilt;  in  a  word,  if  he 
should  not  be  distinguished  from  other  servants  by  his 
regard  to  the  scriptural  rules  which  I  have  just  men- 
I  ioned,  upon  what  ground  are  they  to  take  him  for  a 


410 


MISCELLANIES. 


Christian  ?  and  how  is  the  doctrine  of  God  our  Sa- 
viour to  be  adorned  or  recommended  by  him  ? 

1  affectionately  entreat  you  also  to  reflect,  how  aw- 
ful the  case,  if  any  of  you  should  thus  become  their 
stumbling-block !  or  lead  them  to  suppose  that  Chris- 
tianity is  rather  a  name  or  notion  that  puffs  up  its 
possessors,  than  that  holy  religion  which  the  Scrip- 
tures describe !  I  say,  Reflect  how  awful  it  is  for  a 
Christian  professsor  thus  to  become  a  witness  against 
Christianity,  and  an  assistant  to  '  the  god  of  this 
world'  in  '  blinding  the  minds  of  them  that  beheve 
not!'  2  Cor.  iv,  4. 

Here,  methinks,  I  hear  a  sincere  lover  of  the  truth 
say,  "  1  sec  more  clearly  the  nature  of  my  calling 
than  I  once  did  ;  and  I  feel  that  I  also  have  made  mis- 
takes by  not  keeping  my  eye  more  strictly  upon 
Scripture  Rules.  I  perceive  I  shall  do  nothing  right : 
but  as  I  '  set  the  Lord  always  before  me,'  Ps.  xvi,  8, 
doing  service  unto  Him  ;  and  not  merely  to  man,  and 
looking  unto  Him  for  that  which  1  am  to  receive,  I 
plainly  see  that  many  things,  in  which  others  allow 
themselves,  are  quite  contrary  to  my  profession.  If 
they  are  not  faithful  in  the  smallest  things,  if  they  are 
disposed  to  please  only  when  they  are  pleased,  1  am 
called  to  follow  and  imitate  my  Heavenly  Master: 
taking  up  his  cross,  and  suffering  patiently,  though  it 
be  wrongfully,  as  he  did  before  me.  It  is  but  a  little 
while  that  1  can  either  sufi'er  or  serve  :  a  little  while, 
and  a  poor  servant  shall  reign  with  Christ!  Let  me 
then  seek  to  glorify  Him  more  in  my  appointed  sta- 
tion and  only  opportunity :  and  may  my  coming  so 
short,  even  in  my  best  endeavours,  lead  me  to 
rely  more  simply  and  entirely  on  his  merits  and 
mediation,  who  '  took  upon  him  the  form  of  a  ser- 
vant by  whose  obedience  alone,  '  many  are  made 
righteous,'  and  by  whose  poverty  alone  many  can 
become  rich!" 

Let  me  encourage  such  a  true  disciple  of  Christ, 


FRIENDLY  ADVICE  TO  SERVANTS. 


411 


by  considering/  what  a  testimony  such  a  conduct 
as  the  Scriptures  before  mentioned  recommend, 
must  leave  in  every  family  where  it  is  really  found. 
Men  often  laugh  and  scoff  at  a  Christian,  when 
their  consciences  are  secretly  pierced  with  the 
truth  of  his  profession.  They  are  more  goaded 
by  truth  than  they  choose  to  confess.  Few,  indeed, 
are  so  hardened  in  ignorance  and  sin,  but  at  one 
time  or  other  they  are  ready  to  cry,  'Let  me 
die  the  death  of  the  righteous!  let  my  last  end 
be  like  his!'  Numb,  xxiii,  10.  Nor  is  any  station 
so  low  and  contracted,  nor  any  prospects  so  un- 
promising, as  to  forbid  us  to  hope  for  success  by 
a  '  patient  continuance  in  well-doing,'  Rom.  ii,  7  :  for 
God,  who  works  by  instruments,  often  glorifies  his 
power  by  employing  such  as  men  despise  ;  and,  when 
he  pleases  to  work  by  such,  nothing  can  prevent  the 
execution  of  his  design. 

'Naaman,  captain  of  the  host  of  the  king  of 
Syria,  was  a  great  man  with  his  master — but  he 
was  a  leper.  And  the  Syrians  had  gone  out  b} 
companies,  and  had  brought  away  captive  out  of 
the  land  of  Israel  a  little  maid  :  and  she  waited  on 
Naaman's  wife.  And  she  said  unto  her  mistress, 
Would'  to  'God  my  Lord  were  with  the  prophet  that 
is  in  Samaria !  for  he  would  recover  him  of  his  lepro- 
sy :'  2  Kings  v,  1 — 3. 

Now,  from  the  simple  report  of  this  little  captive, 
what  surprising  consequences  followed !  The  report 
is  carried  to  her  lord.  The  king  of  Syria  sends,  in 
behalf  of  his  favourite  officer,  to  the  king  of  Israel  ; 
and  Naaman  goes  to  the  prophet.  He  is  first  led  (and 
that  by  one  of  his  servants)  to  cease  from  his  reason- 
ings on  a  divine  appointment :  he  then  submits  to  it: 
he  receives  health :  he  acknowledges  the  true  God : 
he  gives  him  glory ;  and  becomes  a  monument  to  all 
generations  of  the  mighty  effects,  which  it  sometimes 
pleases  that  God  to  produce  by  a  servant's  report. 


il2 


MISCELLANIES. 


Let  me  add  here,  that  I  have  found  Naaman  to  be 
not  the  only  leper  recovered  by  such  a  report.  1 
have  known  a  more  desperate  leprosy  than  his  healed 
in  a  similar  way.  I  have  seen,  among  other  instances 
which  I  could  name,  one  of  the  most  abandoned 
youths  I  ever  knew,  induced,  by  the  patient  example 
and  affectionate  persuasion  of  his  fathers  servant,  to 
turn  his  eyes  to  the  '  fountain  opened  for  sin,'  Zech. 
xiii,  1,  in  the  Gospel: — a  man,  whom  the  youth  had 
before  long  scorned  and  insulted,  only  because,  like 
Cain's,  '  his  own  works  were  evil,  and  his  brother's 
righteous:'  1  John  iii,  12. 

Fear  nothing,  therefore,  standing  in  your  appointed 
station,  and  in  a  right  spirit ;  nor,  on  any  account,  let 
'thy  heart  envy  sinners'  in  their  momentary  blaze: 
'  but  be  thou  in  the  fear  of  the  Lord  all  the  day  long: 
for  surely  there  is  an  end,  and  thine  expectation  shall 
not  be  cut  off :'  Prov.  xxiii.  17,  18.  The  highest  and 
happiest  ambition  of  a  rational  creature  is  to  stand 
waiting  for  that  commendation,  '  Well  done,  thou 
good  and  faithful  servant!  thou  hast  been  faithful  over 
a  few  things  :  I  will  make  thee  ruler  over  many  things. 
Enter  thou  into  the  joy  of  thy  Lord:'  Matt,  xxv,  21. 


CHAPTER  X 

THE  IRRKLIGIOUS  ADDRESSED. 

As  a  Minister  and  a  Friend,  I  must  not  forget  those  ser- 
vants, who.  though  of  very  different  descriptions,  are 
yet  at  present,  destitute  of  true  religion  :  that  religion, 
the  principles  and  spirit  of  which  I  have  stated,  and 
the  disciples  of  which  I  have  described.  Such  may 
have  read  this  Address  thus  far,  and  ought  by  no 
means  to  find  it  concluded,  without  a  special  regard  to 
their  case  :  a  case,  indeed,  which  their  Minister  can- 
not but  regard  with  the  tendcrest  compassion;  and 


FRIENDLY  ADVICE  TO  SERVANTS.  413 


therefore  here  adds  a  few  reflections  for  their  particu- 
lar consideration  and  use.  Blessed  be  God,  our  reli- 
gion not  only  commands  us  to  love  those  who  differ 
from  us,  but  it  influences  us  to  do  it! 

And  such  I  would  affectionately  entreat  to  examine, 
whether,  what  shall  be  here  addressed,  be  not  the  plain 
declarations  of  God's  holy  word,  quite  apart  from  mat- 
ters of  private  opinion  or  doubtful  disputation.  All 
I  wish  for,  is  to  call  your  attention  to  your  Bible  ; — to 
bring  forward  what  God  has  so  repeatedly  said,  and 
what  you  are  so  unhappily  disposed  to  forget. 

Let  me  also  entreat  you  to  be  wise  in  time  ;  for  the 
greater  part  of  mankind  are  cut  off,  before  they  begin 
to  think  seriously.  '  They  die  without  wisdom,'  Job 
iv,  21,  because  they  die  without  taking  warning  :  like 
that  senator,  who.  as  he  went  to  the  assembly,  had  an 
account  put  into  his  hand  by  some  friend,  of  a  conspi- 
racy formed  against  his  hfe  :  he  was,  however,  too 
much  engaged  to  attend  to  it;  and  therefore  put  it. 
for  the  present,  into  his  pocket.  He  intended  to  read 
it  the  first  opportunity ;  but  was  stabbed  before  that 
opportunity  came. 

It  is  under  such  an  anxiety  that  I  now  put  this  paper 
into  your  hand.  There  is,  indeed,  a  conspiracy  form- 
ed against  your  life;  yea,  against  the  dearest  part  of 
man,  your  soul.  This  soul  is  very  soon  to  enter  an 
assembly  composed  '  of  all  nations,  tongues  and  peo- 
ple,' standing  before  God,  the  Judge  of  all.  In  the 
way,  an  Adversary  (1  Pet.  v,  8)  lies  in  wait  to  give 
a  fatal  stab  to  its  everlasting  happiness :  sin  poisons 
the  dagger  in  his  hand ;  and  a  careless  unbelieving 
state  of  mind  affords  him  opportunity.  In  such  cir- 
cumstances, shall  I  scruple  to  warn  you  in  the  plainest 
terms?  God  forbid!  My  silence  would  hazard  my 
own  safety.  1  cannot  forget  what  was  once  said  to  a 
minister,  '  If  thou  dost  not  speak  to  warn  the  wicked 
from  his  way,  that  wicked  man  shall  die  in  his  iniquity ; 

VOL.  II.  ,36 


MISCELLANIES. 


but  his  blood  shall  I  require  at  thy  hand :'  Ezek. 
xxxiii,  8. 

The  interests,  therefore,  of  your  soul  are  your 
dearest  interests.  You  will  forget  the  loss  of  all  other 
things  ;  but  this  loss  will  be  irreparable,  hi  losing  this, 
all  will  be  lost !  '  For  what  shall  it  profit  a  man,  if  he 
should  gain  the  whole  world,  and  lose  his  own  soul  / 
Or  what  shall  a  man  give  in  exchange  for  his  soul  ?• 
Mark  viii,  36,  37. 

Presumptuous  minds,  '  blinded  by  the  god  of  this 
world,'  2  Cor.  iv,  4,  may,  indeed,  seek  to  overwhelm 
every  consideration  of  this  kind  with  scoffs  and  ri- 
baldry •,  and  try  to  harden  themselves  and  other? 
against  the  evil  day,  by  the  worst  of  all  hopes,  namely. 
•'  that  God  is  not  to  be  believed."  But  this  despe- 
rate conduct  can  make  no  alteration  whatever  as  to 
the  things  despised  :  the  awful  facts  remain  :  time  flies 
apace  :  eternity  approaches,  whether  we  prepare  for 
it  or  not ;  and  '  God  is  not  a  man,  that  he  should  lie : 
nor  the  son  of  man,  that  he  should  repent:'  Num. 
xxiii,  19.  He  hath  declared  his  purpose:  he  hath 
warned  us  of  our  danger:  he  hath  pointed  out  our 
remedy.  It  is  his  perfection,  that  He  cannot  change, 
nor  deny  himself;  and  therefore,  he  calls  upon  us  to 
change ;  that  is,  '  to  turn  to  him  and  live :'  Ezek. 
xviii,  32. 

Such  as  think  to  avoid  a  danger  by  turning  their 
eyes  from  it,  have  been  well  compared  to  that  silly 
bird,  which,  when  closely  pursued,  thrusts  his  head 
into  the  sand  or  a  thicket ;  and,  because  he  does  not 
see  his  pursuers,  vainly  hopes  that  they  have  lost  sight 
of  him. 

But  '  Wisdom  crieth  without.  How  long,  ye  simple 
ones,  will  ye  love  simplicity  ?  and  the  scorners  delight 
in  their  scorning,  and  fools  hate  knowledge !  Turn  you 
at  my  reproof Prov.  i,  20 — 23.  Our  wisdom  then 
consists,  not  in  shutting  our  eyes  against  a  danger,  but 
in  opening  them  to  discover  a  refuge : — not  in  refusing 

i 


FRIENDLY  ADVICE  TO  SERVANTS. 


415 


to  hear  the  charge  brought  against  sin,  saying  with  the 
wicked,  '  Tush,  thou  God  carest  not  for  it but  in 
humbly  confessing  the  evil ;  submitting  to  his  account 
of  it;  and  embracing  the  remedy  which  he  hath  provi- 
ded against  it.  For  all  attempts  to  conceal  or  excuse 
this  evil  are  as  vain  as  they  are  presumptuous:  it 
meets  us  in  the  Scriptures,— in  the  history  of  ever) 
age,— in  the  scenes  of  every  day,— and  in  our  own 
consciences,  if  they  are  not  blind  or  seared. 

Man,  indeed,  may  choose  to  make  light  of  his  guilt: 
but  he  should  recollect  that  he  is  not  to  be  the  Judge. 
A  criminal  may  plead  for  mercy  :  much  more  may  he 
embrace  it  in  any  way  it  is  otfered:  but  in  what  court 
is  he  allowed  to  "  decide  upon  his  deserts 

How  the  Governor  of  the  universe  ought  to  punish 
sin,  and  what  a  government  of  infinite  perfection,  like 
his,  requires,  we,  insects  as  we  are  before  him,  can 
form  no  right  notions.  It  is  folly  and  presumption  ot 
the  worst  kind,  when  we  attempt  to  determine  what 
he  ought  to  do.  There  is  but  one  way  left  for  wisdom 
to  choose :  namely,  where  we  cannot  guide  ourselves, 
to  accept  of  an  Infallible  Guide  ;  and  what  it  is  impos- 
sible we  should  know  without  God,  to  come  and  learn 
of  God.  When  we  look  around  us,  and  can  see  no 
other  assurance  of  safety,  no  other  probable  resting- 
place  for  the  sole  of  our  foot,  surely  it  is  our  wisdom 
then  to  prepare  for  the  worst  that  can  possibly  hap- 
pen :  and  to  come  and  rest  on  that  foundation,  which 
he  has  laid  in  a  Redeemer.  Rom.  ix,  33. 

Surely  I  say  again.  If  any  conduct  deserves  to  be 
called  Wise,  it  must  be  that  which  shuns  the  danger 
which  he  points  out,  and  embraces  a  method  of  safety 
which  he  recommends ;  nor  can  Folly  itself  be  more 
foolish,  than  to  plan,  not  only  without  his  counsel,  but 

against  it.  ,  ,      •  a 

But  what  is  this  counsel  ?  (for  I  am  labouring  to 
persuade  you  to  abide  by  none  but  his) — What  hath 
he  said  to  every  one  of  us?  Is  it  not  that  'he  hath 


416  MISCELLANIES. 


appointed  a  day,  in  which  he  will  judge  the  world  in 
righteousness?'  Acts  xvii,  31 — that  we  should  stand 
ready  to  meet  that  day,  because  it  cometh  when  leasi 
expected.  Matt,  xxiv,  44 — and  that  '  it  shall  be  more 
tolerable  for  Sodom  and  Gomorrha  in  that  day,  than 
for  those'  who  have  lived  under  greater  advantages,, 
and  neglected  them  ?  Mark  vi,  11. 

He,  who  is  as  '  a  man  taking  a  far  journey,'  and 
!iath  committed  '  to  every  one  his  work,'  Mark  xiii, 
o4,  speaks  of  a  servant  who  '  should  say  in  his  heart, 
My  Lord  delayeth  his  coming ;'  and  accordingly  pur- 
sues his  evil  course,  equally  regardless  of  God  or  man. 
But  what  is  the  consequence  ?  '  The  Lord  of  that  ser- 
vant will  come  in  a  day  when  he  looketh  not  for  him. 
and  in  an  hour  when  he  is  not  aware,  and  will  cut  him 
in  sunder,  and  appoint  him  his  portion  with  the  un- 
l)elievers  :'  Luke  xii,  45,  46. 

He  further  assures  us.  That  it  is  not  enough  that 
we  have  not  been  riotous  or  injurious,  like  the  servant 
above.  He  informs  us.  That  we  have  each  a  talent  to 
improve :  which  you  will  find  described  at  large  in 
Matt.  XXV.  You  will  there  see  another  servant  (which 
means  every  careless  sinner)  coming  and  declaring, 
that,  after  entertaining  hard  thoughts  of  his  master's 
requirements,  he  had  gone,  in  a  sort  of  despair,  and 
'  hid  his  Lord's  talent  in  the  earth.  Lo,  there,'  says 
he,  '  thou  hast  that  is  thine !'  What  followed  this 
wretched  excuse,  and  what  became  of  him  whom  our 
Lord  calls  a  'wicked  and  slothful  servant,'  I  (who 
would  fain  secure  you  from  this  end)  entreat  you  to 
read ;  and,  with  it,  that  very  awful,  but  instructive 
account  of  the  great  day  which  immediately  fol- 
lows it. 

To  listen,  then,  as  this  servant  did,  to  our  own  vain 
thoughts,  or  to  those  of  our  unbelieving  companions, 
instead  of  attending  to  these  gracious  warnings  of  our 
Lord,  is  certainly  one  of  the  most  desperate  delusions 
that  ever  entered  the  human  heart.    "  I  shall  do  as 


1 


FRIENDLY  ADVICE  TO  SERVANTS.  417 


well  as  others,"  says  a  thoughtless  creature  but : 
should  he  not  first  learn,  from  the  Judge  of  the  whole 
earth,  what  others  are  doing  ?  Should  he  embark  soul 
and  body  on  the  ocean  of  Eternity  upon  such  a  pre- 
sumption as  this  ?  (a  sort  of  presumption,  upon  which 
he  would  scarce!}"  risk  a  shilling  of  his  property)  and, 
especially,  after  being  expressly  charged,  not  by  his 
minister  only,  but  by  his  Saviour,  to  '  strive  to  enter 
in  at  the  strait  gate,'  Luke  xiii,  24  ;  and  assured,  that 
'  broad  is  the  way  that  leadeth  to  destruction,  and 
many  there  be  that  go  in  thereat but  that  '  narrow  is 
the  way  which  leadeth  unto  life,  and  few  there  be  that 
find  it?'  Matt,  vi,  13,  14. 

To  rescue  you,  therefore,  from  a  '  world  which  lieth 
in  wickedness,'  1  John  v,  19 — to  prevent  your  com- 
mitting a  mistake  for  which  no  remedy  is  provided  in 
eternity, — and  to  awaken  you  to  the  pursuit  of  eter- 
nal life  before  '  the  night  cometh,  when  no  man  can 
work,'  John  ix,  4 — 1  have  brought  forward  these 
scriptures  •,  and  add  my  fervent  prayers,  that  they  may 
be  accompanied  with  a  divine  blessing  to  your  heart ! 


CHAPTER  XI. 

THE  INCONSIDERATE  WARNED. 

A  PIOUS  writer  of  the  last  century  has  some  re- 
marks, so  appHcable  to  what  has  just  been  said, 
that  I  shall  select  and  abridge  a  passage  or  two  for 
your  use : 

"  Some,"  says  he,  "  are  so  carried  away  by  the 
stream  of  evil  company,  that,  when  one  and  another 
is  cut  off,  it  does  not  daunt  them  ;  because  they  sec 
not  whither  their  companions  are  gone.  Little  do 
they  think  how  such  are  now  lamenting  the  madness 
of  a  careless  state.    In  Luke  xvi.  ihe  'rich  man  in 

VOL.  11.  36* 


418 


hell  would  fain  have  had  one  sent  to  warn  his  five 
brethren,  lest  they  should  come  to  that  place  of  tor- 
ment. Probably  he  knew  their  minds  and  lives  ;  and 
knew  that  they  were  hasting  thither,  little  supposing 
that  he  was  there. 

"  I  remember  being  told  of  a  man  who  was  driving 
a  flock  of  lambs  upon  a  bridge  over  the  Severn ;  and, 
something  hindering  their  passage,  one  of  the  lambs 
leaped  upon  the  wall  of  the  bridge,  and  fell  into  the 
stream  :  the  rest,  seeing  him,  one  after  another  leaped 
also  over,  and  were  drowned:  those,  that  were  be- 
hind, little  suspected  what  became  of  them  which 
were  gone  before ;  but  thought  they  might  venture  to 
follow  their  companions.  Even  so  it  is  with  uncon- 
verted men :  one  dieth  by  them,  and  falls  into  de- 
struction, and  another  follows ;  and  yet  they  pursue 
the  same  course,  not  considering  whither  their  com- 
panions are  gone  ;  but  when  death  hath  once  opened 
their  eyes,  and  they  see  what  is  on  the  other  side  of 
the  wall,  what  would  they  give  to  return !" 

"  Moreover,"  continues  he,  "  they  have  a  craftj 
and  malicious  enemy,  whose  principal  business  is  to 
prevent  their  conversion,  and  to  keep  them  quiet  and 
secure,  Luke  xi,  21  :  and  this  he  attempts,  by  per- 
suading them  to  disbelieve  the  Scriptures,  or  not  to 
trouble  their  minds  with  such  matters ;  or  by  persua- 
ding them  to  think  ill  of  a  godly  life,  and  that  the} 
may  be  saved  without  conversion,  and  that  there  is  no. 
need  of  all  this  stir  and  anxiety  about  it.  He  will  tell 
them  that  God  is  so  merciful,  that  there  is  no  danger : 
at  least,  that  they  may  stay  a  little  longer,  and  take 
their  pleasure  and  follow  the  world  at  present,  and 
repent  hereafter.  By  such  delusions  as  these,  Satan 
keeps  them  captives,  and  leads  them  to  ruin! 

But  consider,  I  pray  you,  what  means  this  repent- 
ance hereafter,  with  which  so  many  are  thus  deluded  ? 
Can  they  repent  at  any  time  without  the  grace  of 


FRIENDLY  ADVICE  TO  SERVANTS.  419 


God  ?  Are  they  likely  to  obtain  that  grace,  who  con- 
tinue to  neglect  and  despise  it  ?  My  concern  for  your 
safety  obliges  me  to  add,  that  nothing  can  be  more  ex- 
press than  the  declaration  of  our  Judge,  That  there 
is  a  time  approaching  in  which  those  who  have  set  at 
nought  his  counsel,  shall  indeed  call,  but  receive  no 
answer:  Prov.  i,  28.  Oh,  how  many  of  them  that  are 
lost,  once  vainly  resolved  to  repent  hereafter  ! 

If,  therefore,  '  fools  make  a  mock  at  sin,'  Prov.  xiv, 
8,  and  if,  more  foolish  still,  they  despise  their  only 
remedy,  turn  from  these  to  the  voice  of  Wisdom  and 
of  God,  in  Proverbs,  chap,  i ;  for  there  you  will  see 
expressly  described,  both  the  character  and  the  eiid  of 
riuch  men. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

A  MINISTER'S  AIM. 

Such  Scriptures  as  have  been  mentioned,  it  is  con 
fessed,  have  a  tendency  to  disturb  and  wound  those 
who  live  in  a  careless  and  unconverted  state :  the}' 
were,  indeed,  written  with  this  very  design.  Let 
such,  however,  recollect,  that  '  faithful  are  the  wounds 
of  a  friend:'  Prov.  xxvii,  16. 

When  your  body  is  disordered,  you  send  for  a  phy- 
sician or  surgeon,  and  willingly  submit  to  whatever  he 
prescribes :  you  depend  upon  his  skill  and  integrity 
through,  perhaps,  a  tedious  and  painful  operation,  if, 
peradventure  you  may  at  length  regain  your  health. 
But  what  is  the  health  of  a  dying  body,  compared 
with  the  salvation  of  an  immortal  soul  ?  Or  who  is 
that  earthly  physician,  that  may  be  trusted  like  the 
Heavenly  One,  whose  advice  we  have  heard  ? 

Much  more  pleasant  is  a  minister's  work  in  healing 
a  broken  heart,  than  in  breaking  a  hard  one.  To 
warn  you  of  your  danger,  is,  indeed,  our  dufij :  hut  Ui 


420 


MlSCELLAMEb. 


congratulate  you  on  your  safety,  would  be  out  joy. 
We  join  the  angels  in  rejoicing  over  a  returning  sin- 
ner; and,  as  we  see  you  united  to  the  flock  of  Christ, 
we  are  ready  to  cry,  with  the  Apostle,  '  What  is  our 
hope,  or  joy,  or  crown  of  rejoicing?  are  not  even  yc 
in  the  presence  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  at  his 
coming  ?  for  ye  are  our  glory  and  joy :'  1  Thess. 
ii,  19,  20. 

With  what  pleasure  was  that  letter  written  (though 
written  in  bonds)  which  was  sent  by  a  servant  return- 
ing like  a  new  creature  to  his  master!  '1  beseech 
thee,  for  my  son  Onesimus,  whom  I  have  begotten  in 
my  bonds :  which  in  time  past  was  to  thee  unprofita- 
ble ;  but  now  profitable  to  thee  and  to  me !  Whom  1 
have  sent  again  :  thou,  therefore,  receive  him  ;  that  is. 
mine  own  bowels.  He,  perhaps,  departed  for  a  sea- 
son, that  thou  shouldst  receive  him  for  ever :  as  a 
brother  beloved.  Receive  him  as  myself!'  Philem. 
10—17. 

You  see  plainly,  here,  for  what  a  minister  la- 
bours, and  what  is  the  proper  eflect  of  the  Gospel: 
and  may  he,  who,  to  meet  our  deep  necessities, 
came  down,  and  '  took  upon  him  the  form  of  a  ser- 
vant,' Phil,  ii,  7,  and  sends  by  whom  and  in  what 
way  he  will,  give  success  to  my  endeavours  for 
your  benefit  ?  that,  receiving  yourself  the  inesti- 
mable blessing  of  a  saving  conversion  to  God. 
you  may  become  a  blessing  to  every  family  with 
which  you  live !  Let  your  prayers  be  united 
with  mine  to  this  end :  and  be  not  discouraged, 
because  you  cannot  pray  as  you  would.  Pray 
as  you  can.  God  looketh  not  at  the  expression, 
but  at  the  heart;  and  hath  declared,  that  'he 
is  nigh  unto  all  them  that  call  upon  him :'  Ps. 
cxlv,  18.  The  Scriptures  which  you  read  will 
furnish  you  with  both  matter  and  language  for 
prayer;  an  example  of  vkhich  I  shall  leave  you 
at  the  conclusion. 


FRIENDLY  ADVICE  TO  SERVANTS.         42  J 


If,  convinced  of  your  sad  state  in  having  wandered 
from  the  best  of  Fathers — and  if,  tired,  like  the  prodi- 
gal of  its  slavery — you  are  desirous  to  return,  remem- 
ber how  graciously  our  Lord  invites  '  all  that  labour, 
and  are  heavy  laden,'  to  come  unto  him  for  rest.  Matt, 
xi,  28  ;  declaring  that  he  will  '  in  no  wise  cast  him  out 
that  comes,'  John  vi.  37,  that  his  blood  shall  cleanse 
such  from  the  guilt  of  sin,  and  his  Spirit  deliver  them 
from  the  power  of  it;  and  that  he  will  freely  give  his 
'  Holy  Spirit  to  them  that  ask  him  :'  Luke  xi,  1 3. 

As  his  servants  and  witnesses  upon  earth,  we  are 
bound  to  declare  these  truths  ;  and  to  declare  them 
with  firmness,  on  the  authority  of  his  luord.  We  can 
speak  of  them  also  from  our  own  experience  :  we  have 
been  in  your  condition :  we  were  convinced  of  our 
danger:  we  advanced  upon  the  credit  of  his  truth: 
our  prospects  brightened  as  we  advanced ;  and  the 
more  we  know  of  religion  and  its  Author,  the  more  we 
feel  and  admire  its  evidence  and  importance  !  Can  we 
then  avoid  adopting  the  words  of  the  Apostle,  (though 
in  an  humbler  sense,)  '  That  which  we  have  seen  and 
heard,  declare  we  unto  you,  that  ye  may  have  fellow- 
ship with  us :  and,  truly,  our  fellowship  is  with  the 
Father,  and  with  his  Son  Jesus  Christ :  and  these 
things  write  we  unto  you,  that  your  joy  may  be  full :' 
1  John  i,  3,  4. 

It  is  in  advancing,  that  you  may  expect  the  same  in- 
creasing conviction;  for  a  Christian's  evidence  grows 
with  his  experience.  '  He,  that  believeth  on  the  Son 
of  God.  hath  the  witness  in  himself,'  I  John  v,  10; 
and,  in  his  time  and  measure,  shall  be  enabled  to  resist 
every  temptation  to  apostasy,  with  the  holy  confidence 
of  that  faithful  servant,*  who,  when  ui^ed  to  save  his 
life  by  reviling  his  Master,  replied,  eighty  and  six  years 

*  Polycarp,  Bishop  of  Smyrna,  supposed  to  have  been  a  disciple 
of  St.  J«ha,  and  the  person  meant  by  the  Angel  of  the  Church  of 
-Smyrna,  in  Rev.  ii,  8. — He  suffered  about  the  year  167, 


422 


MISCELLANIES. 


have  I  served  Christ,  and  never  received  any  thing  but 
kindness  from  him ;  how  then  can  I  now  blaspheme 
my  King  and  my  Saviour !" 


A  PRAYER. 

Almighty  God,  '  who  dwellest  in  the  high  and 
holy  place,  with  him  also  that  is  poor,  and  of  a  con- 
trite spirit,  and  trembleth  at  thy  word,'  mercifully  at- 
tend to  the  cry  of  a  lost  sinner,  who  desires  to  ap- 
proach thee  in  the  name  and  mediation  of  thy  Son 
Jesus  Christ ! 

'  I  am  not  worthy  of  the  least  of  all  thy  mercies, 
for  I  have  sinned  against  Heaven  and  in  thy  sight. 
God  be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner.' 

But  '  who  is  a  God  like  unto  thee,  pardoning  ini- 
quity, transgression  and  sin  !  Thou  delightest  in  mer- 
cy.' Thou  hast  often  'called  when  I  have  refused.' 
Thou  now  criest  in  my  heart,  '  Turn  ye,  for  why  will 
ye  die  ?  Turn  thou  me,  O  Lord,  and  I  shall  be  turned. 
Heal  me,  and  I  shall  be  healed.  Say  unto  my  soul,  I 
am  thy  salvation.' 

Glory  to  thy  holy  name,  that  when  I  forgot  thee 
thou  didst  remember  me ;  and  still  saidst,  '  Seek  ye 
my  face.'  Pour  upon  me  now  thy  promised  '  Spirit 
of  grace  and  supplication ;'  and  incline  my  heart  to 
reply,  '  Thy  face,  Lord,  will  I  seek !'  Yea,  '  I  will 
seek  thee  with  my  whole  heart ;'  for  '  blessed  is  the 
man  whom  thou  choosest,  and  causeth  to  approach 
unto  thee !  Remember  me,'  therefore,  '  O  Lord,  with 
the  favour  that  thou  bearest  unto  thy  people !  O  visit 
me  with  thy  salvation,  that  I  may  see  the  good  of  thy 
chosen.' 

Let  '  the  Spirit  of  Truth  lead  me  into  all  truth 
and  so  '  open  the  eyes  of  my  understanding,  that  I 


FRIENDLY  ADVICE  TO  SERVANTS. 


423 


may'  savingly  '  understand  the  Scriptures,'  and  find 
that '  wisdom  which  giveth  Hfe  to  them  that  have  it.' 

And,  since  thou  hast  given  eternal  life  so  freely,  and 
declared  this  life,  to  be  only  in  thy  Son,  grant  that  I 
may  not  be  of  'them  that  draw  back  unto  perdition, 
but  of  them  that  believe  to  the  saving  of  the  soul 
that  my  trust  may  be  alone  in  the  Lord,  my  Redeem- 
er ;  yea,  '  God  forbid  that  I  should  glory,  save  in  the 
cross  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ !'  Give  me  rest,  through 
his  labour ;  health  from  his  wounds :  and  life,  by  his 
death ! 

Grant  also,  O  my  Heavenly  Father,  that  I  '  may 
know  what  is  the  exceeding  greatness  of  his  power  in 
them  that  believe !'  Let  thy  Spirit  be  a  living  spring 
in  my  heart,  'springing  up  unto  everlasting  life.' 
Make  me  '  a  living  branch  in  the  true  vine,'  that  I  may 
■  bring  forth  much  fruit'  to  thy  glory.  May  I  feel  '  the 
joy  of  the  Lord,'  to  be  my  '  strength ;'  and  find,  in 
every  trial,  his  '  grace  sufficient  for  me !' 

oh  that  thou  wouldest  bless  me  indeed,  in  sending 
these  thy  promised  mercies  ! — and  that  '  thy  hand  may 
be  with  me'  in  my  station,  '  keeping  me  from  the 
evils'  and  temptations  which  attend  it!  Bless  me, 
and  make  me  a  blessing  to  those  whom  I  serve,  to 
those  that  serve  with  me,  and  to  all  my  relations ! 

As  a  servant,  enable  me  to  walk  before  thee  ;  acting 
•'  as  in  thy  sight,'  and  as  serving  thee,  while  I  serve 
those  whom  thou  hast  placed  over  me.  Bless,  O 
Lord,  the  family  in  which  1  live  ;  and  help  me  to  walk 
before  them  'with  all  humility  of  mind,'  with  truth 
and  soberness,  diligence  and  patience ;  "  doing  to 
others  as  I  would  they  should  do  unto  me,"  that  I  may 
•  adorn  the  doctrine  of  God  my  Saviour  in  all  things !' 

As  a  pilgrim,  travelling  from  Time  to  Eternity, 
help  me  '  to  walk  by  faith,  and  not  by  sight.  As  my 
day  is,'  let  '  my  strength  be.  Show  me  the  path 
wherein  I  should  walk,  for  I  lift  up  my  soul  unto  thee  :' 
and  '  hold  thou  me  up'  in  it,  '  and  I  shall  he  safe !' 


124 


MISCELLANIES. 


As  a  helpless  and  dying  worm,  '  to  whom  should  I 
go  but  unto  thee  ?  Thou  hast  the  words  of  eternal 
life.'  Thou  hast  promised  all  I  want ;  nor  can  I  let 
thee  go,  '  except  thou  bless  me.' 

Graciously  protect  me,  while  I  live :  support  me, 
when  I  come  to  die !  Save,  oh  save  me  from  '  the 
worm  that  never  dieth!'  and  bring  me,  through  the 
merits  of  my  Redeemer  to  that  '  rest  which  remaineth 
for  the  people  of  God.' 

In  his  name,  and  for  his  sake  alone,  I  ask  these 
mercies;  to  whom,  with  Thyself  and  the  Holy 
Spirit,  be  all  honour  and  glory,  world  without  end ' 
4men ! 


The  preceding  Ti'act  is  recommended  by  the  Bri- 
tish Society  for  the  Encouragement  of  Servant?,  insti- 
tuted, Nov.  23.  1 792. 


I--ND  OF  ^'0L.  n 


1  1012  01147  6050 


